How to Write 穸 (xī) — Meaning “Tomb / dark”

Imagine a cave (穴) at dusk (夕) — the evening light makes the cave interior dark, just like a tomb. You can also think of the sun setting inside a cave, creating a dark and quiet space. This image links the two parts to the character's meaning of darkness and burial.

Start with the top radical 穴: write the dot first, then the hook stroke, and ensure the two sides are balanced. The bottom part 夕 has a short left stroke and a longer right stroke that both slant downward; keep the bottom narrow so it fits under the cave cover. A common mistake is making the bottom too wide or misaligning the strokes, which breaks the character's compact shape.

穸 (xī) has 夕 (evening) below, while 穵 (wā) has a curved stroke shaped like 乙 and means "to dig." 究 (jiū) has 九 (nine) below and means "to study" or "to investigate." Visually, 穸's bottom is rounded and open, 穵's bottom has a hook, and 究's bottom is flat and crossed.

穸 is a classical character rarely used in everyday conversation or writing. It appears mainly in formal or historical contexts, such as the word 窀穸 (zhūn xī), which refers to a grave or burial pit in ancient texts. You might encounter it in literature about tombs, archaeology, or traditional funeral customs.

Common words containing 穸 include: 窀穸 (zhūn xī) — A grave or tomb.; 穸台 (xī tái) — Tomb platform; 穸穴 (xī xué) — Burial pit.