How to Write 解 (jiě/jiè/xiè) — Meaning “to explain; to solve; to untie”

Q: Can you give a mnemonic to remember the character 解?

Imagine a cow (牛) with a horn (角) that you need to cut off using a knife (刀) to solve a problem. This visual helps you recall that 解 means 'to solve' or 'to untie.' The three parts are easy to remember as a little story.

Q: What are key writing tips for 解?

Write the left side 角 first (7 strokes), then the top-right 刀 (2 strokes), and finally the bottom-right 牛 (4 strokes). Make sure the 刀 is smaller than the 牛 below it, and don't confuse the stroke order of 牛 (start with the left-falling stroke).

Q: How is 解 different from 觖 and 觚?

觖 (jué) means 'to resent' or 'dissatisfied' and is extremely rare in modern Chinese. 觚 (gū) refers to an ancient wine vessel or a corner. Unlike 解, which is common and has the radical 角, 觖 and 觚 are seldom used and have very different meanings.

Q: When is 解 commonly used in modern Chinese?

解 appears in everyday words like 解释 (explain) and 解决 (solve). In the word 押解 (yā jiè), it changes pronunciation to jiè and means to escort a prisoner. A cultural note: the 'solution' meaning is very practical, so you will see 解 on signs for customer service counters.

Q: What common words use 解?

Common words containing 解 include: 解释 (jiě shì) — to explain; explanation; 解决 (jiě jué) — to solve; to settle; 押解 (yā jiè) — to escort (a prisoner) under guard.

jiě/jiè/xiè HSK Level 3 13 strokes Radical: 角

解 (jiě/jiè/xiè) means "to explain; to solve; to untie" in Chinese. It has 13 strokes with the radical 角, and is HSK Level 3.

Rated 4.2/5 in difficulty (advanced).

Harder than 94% of HSK Level 3 characters.

Appears in 6+ common words including 解释 (jiě shì), 解决 (jiě jué), 押解 (yā jiè).

Due to its 13 strokes, Hanzi Writer's error detection shows 解 requires focused practice — most learners need 10+ attempts for consistent accuracy.

Stroke order practice for 解 - jiě/jiè/xiè

Practice Writing 解 (jiě/jiè/xiè)

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How to Write 解

The character 解 (jiě/jiè/xiè) is written with 13 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 角 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

What Does jiě/jiè/xiè (解) Mean in Chinese?

解 means to explain; to solve; to untie.

This is a polyphonic character with readings: jiě, jiè, xiè.

As an HSK Level 3 character, 解 is an intermediate-level character.

Character Data

Character	解
Pinyin	jiě / jiè / xiè (jie/xie)
Meaning	to explain; to solve; to untie
Strokes	13
Radical	角
HSK Level	3
Difficulty	4.2/5

Origin of 解

解 combines the radical 角 (horn) with 刀 (knife) and 牛 (cow), literally depicting cutting apart an ox with a knife. This imagery of disassembling or separating is the source of its meanings: to untie, to solve, or to explain.

💡 Memory Tip: Imagine using a knife (刀) to cut the horn (角) off a cow (牛) to solve the puzzle of how to untie the tangled ropes.

Common Words with 解

解释 jiě shì

to explain; explanation

解决 jiě jué

to solve; to settle

押解 yā jiè

to escort (a prisoner) under guard

解差 jiè chāi

Escort for a prisoner; guard

姓解 xìng xiè

Surnamed Xie.

解数 xiè shù

Skill; art; trick

Example Sentences

请你解释一下这个数学公式的推导过程。

qǐng nǐ jiě shì yī xià zhè ge shù xué gōng shì de tuī dǎo guò chéng

Please explain the derivation process of this mathematical formula.

我们必须集思广益，尽快解决目前的难题。

wǒ men bì xū jí sī guǎng yì jǐn kuài jiě jué mù qián de nán tí

We must pool our wisdom to solve the current problem as soon as possible.

几名官差正在沿路押解重犯前往京城。

jǐ míng guān chāi zhèng zài yán lù yā jiè chóng fàn qián wǎng jīng chéng

Several officials are escorting serious criminals along the road to the capital.

那个解差在路途中对犯人还算体恤。

nà ge jiè chāi zài lù tú zhōng duì fàn rén hái suàn tǐ xù

The escorting officer was quite considerate to the prisoner during the journey.

Similar Characters Comparison

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Radical
解 (current)	jiě / jiè / xiè	13	角
觖	jué	11	角
觚	gū	12	角
觜	zī	13	角

Practice Writing 解 (jiě/jiè/xiè)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 解 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 解

What are the components of 解 and how do they relate to its meaning?

解 is composed of 角 (horn), 刀 (knife), and 牛 (cow). Together, they suggest using a knife to cut horn from a cow, which connects to the idea of separating or loosening something. This explains its meanings of 'to untie,' 'to solve,' and 'to explain.'

Can you give a mnemonic to remember the character 解?

What are key writing tips for 解?

How is 解 different from 觖 and 觚?

When is 解 commonly used in modern Chinese?

What common words use 解?

How to Write 解 (jiě/jiè/xiè) — Meaning “to explain; to solve; to untie”

Practice Writing 解 (jiě/jiè/xiè)

How to Write 解

What Does jiě/jiè/xiè (解) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 解

Common Words with 解

Example Sentences

Similar Characters Comparison

Practice Writing 解 (jiě/jiè/xiè)

Frequently Asked Questions about 解

More HSK Level 3 Characters

Characters with Radical 角

Other 13-Stroke Characters