How to Write 麒 (qí) — Meaning “Male qilin (mythical creature)”

Picture a magical deer (鹿) standing on a square box (其) — this odd image reminds you that 麒 is a special mythical animal. Imagine the deer has a single horn like a qilin, linking the shape to the creature's unique appearance.

Pay special attention to the left radical 鹿: it has a wide top with a dot on the left, and the bottom is like 比 (but without the second stroke on the right side). The right part 其 must be balanced and not too wide, and note that the total stroke count is 19, so take care not to add extra strokes in the radical.

麒 (qí) specifically means a male qilin, a mythical animal, while 鏖 (áo) means a fierce battle and contains the 鹿 radical but with a different right side (金+鹿?). 麋 (mí) means elk or a type of deer, and looks similar but has 米 under 鹿 instead of 其. Visually, 麒 has 其 on the right, 麋 has 米 under the deer, and 鏖 has a complex top part.

麒 is almost always used in the word 麒麟 (qílín), which refers to a benevolent mythical creature that appears only during the rule of a wise king. You may also see it in names like 麒麟座 (Monoceros constellation) or the poetic term 麒麟儿 (a brilliant child), symbolizing great promise and good fortune.

Common words containing 麒 include: 麒麟 (qí lín) — Qilin (Chinese unicorn); 麒麟座 (qí lín zuò) — Monoceros (constellation); 麒麟儿 (qí lín ér) — A brilliant child.