How to Write 犪 (kuí) — Meaning “Kui (a mythical ox-like beast)”

Imagine a strange ox that has a single leg and a ghost-like face—this is 夔 on the right side. The left part 牛 reminds you it is an ox, so 犪 is that special one-legged ox from myths. It can also help to think of "Kui" as a name for this odd creature.

The hardest part is the right side 夔, which has many strokes and a complex structure. A common mistake is to make the 夔 part too wide or to forget its top strokes (夂-like). Practice writing 牛 first, then carefully add 夔, keeping the balance so the whole character is not too left-heavy.

犪 is extremely rare and almost never appears in modern phrases or compound words. It is only found in ancient texts like the Shan Hai Jing (Classic of Mountains and Seas), where it names a mythical one-legged ox. You will not see it in daily conversation or HSK vocabulary.

Today 犪 is only used in specialist contexts, such as when discussing ancient Chinese mythology or classical literature. Most native speakers have never seen it, so it is more of a historical curiosity. If you encounter it, it is usually in a quotation from an old text describing a strange beast.

Common words containing 犪 include: 犪 (kuí) — Kui (a mythical ox-like beast).