How to Write 貇 (kūn) — Meaning “sincere / earnest”

Picture a loyal beast (豸) named Kun (昆) who always acts with complete sincerity — think 'Kun the earnest beast.' Alternatively, imagine the beast saying 'I am earnest, not cunning' — note that 'cunning' sounds like 'Kun-ning' but reversed, 貇 is the opposite: sincere.

Write the left radical 豸 with 7 strokes: start with a short horizontal, then a hook, then a left-falling stroke — do not confuse it with 犭 (dog radical). The right side 昆 has 8 strokes: write the top 日 compact, then the bottom 比 with two '匕' parts side by side, keeping them balanced.

貂 (diāo) has 召 on the right and means a mink or sable animal, while 貅 (xiū) has 休 on the right and refers to the mythical beast 貔貅. In contrast, 貇 uses 昆 on the right and means 'sincere' or 'earnest' — it is not an animal name but an abstract quality.

貇 is very rare in everyday speech; it appears mainly in formal or classical phrases like 貇请 (to sincerely request) or 貇切 (sincere and earnest). You might encounter it in historical documents, ceremonies, or literary works where a respectful tone is needed, but it is not in the HSK vocabulary list.

Common words containing 貇 include: 貇貇 (kūn kūn) — earnestly / sincerely; 貇切 (kūn qiè) — sincere and earnest; 貇请 (kūn qǐng) — to sincerely request.