How to Write 诋 (dǐ) — Meaning “To slander / To vilify”

Think of the sound 'dǐ' like 'dee' in 'deep' — slander goes deep into someone's character. Visualize the right part 氐 as a person bowing down low, because slander brings others down, and the speech radical on the left reminds you it is done with words.

Start with the left radical 讠 (two strokes: dot, then horizontal fold with an upward flick). Then write the right part 氐: horizontal, left-falling, vertical, horizontal, slanting hook, and a final dot (total 6 strokes). A common mistake is confusing the bottom of 氐 with 氏 — remember 氐 has a longer slanting hook ending with a dot.

All three share the speech radical, but the right parts differ: 讦 has 干 (meaning 'to do' or 'shield') and means to expose secrets, while 讧 has 工 (meaning 'work') and means internal strife. 诋 with 氐 specifically means to slander by spreading false accusations, not just exposing truth or fighting.

诋 appears in formal or written Chinese, most often in the word 诋毁 (to defame), used in legal, political, or critical discussions. Culturally, slander (诋毁) is viewed as a serious moral offense in China, associated with jealousy or dishonesty, and is avoided in polite conversation.

Common words containing 诋 include: 诋毁 (dǐ huǐ) — To slander / To defame; 诋讥 (dǐ jī) — To slander and mock; 诋斥 (dǐ chì) — To denounce / To vilify.