犀 (xī) — rhinoceros
Definition
A bound form never used alone. In compounds it marks 'rhinoceros' (犀牛); in 犀利 it means 'sharp, incisive' (speech, insight).
bound form
rhinoceros
Easily confused
- 西Xīsound-alikewest; the West
- 吸xīsound-aliketo inhale, to breathe in
- 嘻xīsound-alike(interjection) an exclamation expressing surprise, alarm, or sorrow
- 兮xīsound-alike(classical Chinese modal particle) used for exclamation or rhythmic effect, similar to 'oh' or 'ah'
- 希xīsound-alikehope (bound form, as in 希望)
- 膝xīsound-alike(bound form) knee (used in compounds like 膝盖, 膝关节)
Examples
- 。Yě shēng xī niú de shù liàng zhèng zài jiǎn shǎo.The number of wild rhinoceroses is decreasing.
- ，。Tā de fā yán hěn xī lì, yì zhēn jiàn xiě.His speech was sharp and incisive.
- 。Fēi zhōu xī niú shēng huó zài guǎng kuò de cǎo yuán shàng.African rhinoceroses live on vast grasslands.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
犀 pairs 牛, the ox, with 尾 as its sound part; the ox part marks the meaning.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.