How to Write 悉 (xī) — Meaning “To know or all.”

Imagine a heart (心) that has carefully sorted out all information like picking through items (釆). This helps you remember that 悉 means "to know all" because the heart has fully distinguished and understood everything.

Pay attention to the top part 釆, which has seven strokes and looks like 采 but with an extra vertical line through the top. Common mistakes include writing it as 采 (cǎi) with only three strokes on top instead of four. The bottom 心 must be written with the left dot first, then the center hook, then the right dot.

The key difference is in the top part: 悉 has 釆 (distinguish), 怎 has 乍 (zhà, sudden) and 怒 has 奴 (nú, slave). All three share the bottom component 心, but their meanings are unrelated—悉 means "know", 怎 means "how", and 怒 means "anger". Visually, 悉's top has a clear vertical stroke through the middle, while 怎's top is simpler and 怒's top looks like 女 plus 又.

悉 appears in formal or written Chinese, often in compound words like 熟悉 (familiar with), 悉心 (with utmost care), and 获悉 (to learn of news). It can also mean "all" in phrases like 悉数 (all numbers). You will encounter 悉 in news reports, instructions, or academic texts rather than everyday conversation.

Common words containing 悉 include: 熟悉 (shú xī) — familiar with; to know well; 悉心 (xī xīn) — With the utmost care.; 获悉 (huò xī) — to learn of; to be informed of.