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犀利 (xī lì) — sharp, incisive (of remarks, observations, eyesight, etc.)

Definition

Used for words, looks, or insight that cut straight to the point — 'incisive, sharp, penetrating.' Broader than 锋利 (which is mainly for blades); pairs with insight and style, not edges.

adjective
sharpincisive (of remarks, observations, eyesight, etc.)

Examples

  • 犀利，。
    Tā de yǎn jiǎng yán cí xī lì, yíng dé le zhèn zhèn zhǎng shēng.
    His speech was sharp and incisive, winning rounds of applause.
  • 犀利，。
    Zhè wèi jì zhě de tí wèn fēi cháng xī lì, ràng fā yán rén nán yǐ huí bì.
    This journalist's questions were very incisive, making it hard for the spokesperson to evade them.
  • 犀利，。
    Tā yǎn guāng xī lì, yì yǎn jiù kàn chū le huà zuò de xiá cī.
    Her eyesight is sharp; she spotted the flaw in the painting at a glance.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

犀xīrhinoceros
利lìsharp

犀 evokes rhinoceros horn and 利 gives sharpness, together meaning sharp or incisive.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
牛牛niúox
Sound part声符shēngfú
尾
尾wěi犀xī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

犀 pairs 牛, the ox, with 尾 as its sound part; the ox part marks the meaning.

Open 犀 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

利 combines 禾 (grain) and 刀 (knife), showing a knife used to cut grain.

Open 利 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.