How to Write 夔 (kuí) — Meaning “Kui (a legendary one-legged monster)”

Picture a one-legged monster hopping on a single foot, with its long tail (the long strokes on the right) balancing behind it. The top part 夂 looks like a bent leg, and the complicated middle represents its strange body — just think "one leg + weird body = 夔."

This character has 21 strokes, so pay close attention to the order: start with the top 夂 (3 strokes), then the left side (冫-like component), followed by the tall vertical stroke and the many horizontal and vertical strokes on the right. A common mistake is making the bottom part too narrow; keep the left and right sides balanced, and don't forget the final dot inside the bottom enclosure.

夔牛 (kuí niú) refers to the mythical one-legged beast, often used in ancient literature. 夔门 (kuí mén) is a famous gorge on the Yangtze River, named after a legendary guardian, and is a scenic spot in Chongqing. 夔州 (kuí zhōu) is an old name for a prefecture in that area, encountered in historical contexts.

Today, 夔 is rarely used in everyday conversation; it appears mostly in historical, geographical, or mythological contexts. You may see it in names of places like 夔门 or in classical literature discussions. For language learners, it is more of a cultural curiosity than a practical character to memorize for daily use.

Common words containing 夔 include: 夔牛 (kuí niú) — Kui (a mythical one-legged beast); 夔门 (kuí mén) — Kui Gate (a famous pass on the Yangtze River); 夔州 (kuí zhōu) — Kuizhou (an ancient prefecture in modern-day Chongqing).