徙 (xǐ) — to move (one's residence) (literary); to be transferred (to a different official post) (literary)

Definition

徙 is a literary bound form meaning 'to move' or 'to be transferred', almost always seen in 迁徙 or 迁移 / 调徙, never used alone. It signals a formal, written register — choose it for elevated prose, not everyday speech.

bound form
to move (one's residence) (literary)to be transferred (to a different official post) (literary)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Xǔ duō hòu niǎo zài qiū tiān huì qiān xǐ dào wēn nuǎn de nán fāng.
    Many migratory birds migrate to warm southern regions in autumn.
  • ，。
    Yóu yú zhàn luàn, dà liàng rén kǒu bèi pò qiān xǐ dào qí tā dì qū.
    Due to war, large populations were forced to migrate to other areas.
  • 徙。
    Tā yīn zhèng jì bù jiā bèi tiáo xǐ dào piān yuǎn de zhōu xiàn.
    He was transferred to a remote prefecture because of poor performance.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

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

The shape 徙 adds walking parts to a part that gave the sound, marking movement from one place to another.

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