How to Write 曦 (xī) — Meaning “sunlight (early morning)”

Picture the sun (日) rising over a field of grass (艹) where a sheep (羊) holds a spear (戈) and fire (灬) lights the dawn. The right part 羲 contains these elements: 㐅 (two strokes like grass), 羊 (sheep), 戈 (spear), and 灬 (fire). This image helps you recall the complex right side.

The left radical 日 is narrow and sits high, while the right part 羲 takes up most of the space. Write the right side in order: first 㐅 (two strokes), then 羊 (6 strokes), then 戈 (4 strokes), and finally 灬 (4 strokes). A common mistake is making the left 日 too wide or centering it too low.

曦 means early morning sunlight, 曚 means hazy or dim light (often at dusk), and 曛 means twilight or sunset glow. Visually, 曦 has 羲 on the right, 曚 has 蒙 (meaning cover), and 曛 has 熏 (meaning smoke). Use 曦 for fresh dawn light, 曚 for unclear light, and 曛 for evening light.

曦 is not in the HSK list but appears in literary or poetic writing to describe the beauty of dawn. It is also common in given names, like 晨曦 (chén xī) which is used as a girl's name meaning 'first rays of morning sun'. Culturally, dawn symbolizes new beginnings and hope in Chinese literature.

Common words containing 曦 include: 晨曦 (chén xī) — First rays of morning sun; 曦光 (xī guāng) — first light of dawn; 曦微 (xī wēi) — faint dawn light.