How to Write 遂 (suí/suì) — Meaning “then; to fulfill”

Imagine a person walking (辶) with a pig (豕) that has eight (八) legs — this pig is so special that it can fulfill any wish. The strange image of an eight-legged pig following you helps you recall that 遂 means 'to fulfill' or 'then'.

Start with the radical 辶: first a small dot, then a curved zigzag stroke, and finally a long sweeping stroke to the right. The right side is taller: write the top part 八 (two strokes), then the bottom 豕 (seven strokes), making sure the 豕 does not overlap the 辶. A common mistake is to make the 辶 too short, causing the character to look unbalanced.

Visually, 逋 has the right side 甫 (a man with a field), while 逍 has 肖 (like a small moon with a vertical line). 遂 uses 㒸 (eight and pig). In meaning, 遂 relates to fulfillment or consequence, 逋 means 'to flee' or 'to owe', and 逍 appears in 逍遥 meaning 'free and unfettered'. Focus on the right side shape to tell them apart.

遂 appears in formal or literary words like 遂心 (suì xīn, 'to one's liking') and 遂愿 (suì yuàn, 'to have a wish fulfilled'). The medical term 半身不遂 (bàn shēn bù suí) describes paralysis, where 遂 here means 'smooth movement'. It is not common in daily conversation but is important in written Chinese and idioms.

Common words containing 遂 include: 遂心 (suì xīn) — to one's liking; 遂愿 (suì yuàn) — to have one's wish fulfilled; 半身不遂 (bàn shēn bù suí) — Hemiplegia; paralysis of one side of the body.