How to Write 郗 (xī) — Meaning “Xi (a surname)”

Q: How can I remember the character 郗 using a mnemonic?

Imagine a rare (希) hill (阝) that is so special it belongs to the Xi family. This visual connects the components to the surname meaning.

Q: What are the key writing tips for 郗?

Write the left radical 阝 first, which is two strokes: a curved line and a vertical stroke. Then write 希 on the right, keeping the top 㐅 balanced above the 布 (cloth) part; be careful that the overall width is not too narrow.

Q: How is 郗 different from 邮 and 邯?

While all share the 阝 radical, 邮 (yóu) means "post" (from 由), and 邯 (hán) is part of the city name Handan. In contrast, 郗 is exclusively a surname, with no common meaning beyond that.

Q: When and how is 郗 used in modern Chinese?

郗 is only used as a surname, so you will see it in names like 郗先生 (Mr. Xi). It is not in common vocabulary, so you mainly encounter it when referring to someone with this rare family name.

Q: What common words use 郗?

Common words containing 郗 include: 郗先生 (xī xiān shēng) — Mr. Xi; 郗老师 (xī lǎo shī) — Teacher Xi; 姓郗 (xìng xī) — Surname Xi.

xī 9 strokes Radical: 阝

郗 (xī) means "Xi (a surname)" in Chinese. It has 9 strokes with the radical 阝.

Rated 3.7/5 in difficulty (challenging).

Appears in 3+ common words including 郗先生 (xī xiān shēng), 郗老师 (xī lǎo shī), 姓郗 (xìng xī).

Due to its 9 strokes, Hanzi Writer's error detection shows 郗 requires focused practice — most learners need 10+ attempts for consistent accuracy.

Practice Writing 郗 (xī)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 郗 with real-time feedback.

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How to Write 郗

The character 郗 (xī) is written with 9 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 阝 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

What Does xī (郗) Mean in Chinese?

郗 means Xi (a surname).

Character Data

Character	郗
Pinyin	xī (xi)
Meaning	Xi (a surname)
Strokes	9
Radical	阝
Difficulty	3.7/5

Origin of 郗

郗 is a compound character combining the radical 阝 (city) on the left, indicating a place, with 希 (xī, meaning 'rare' or 'to hope') on the right as a phonetic component. It originally referred to a city or fief in ancient China, from which the surname Xi is derived.

💡 Memory Tip: Picture a rare (希) city (阝) where the Xi family built a wall shaped like an 'X' to mark their unique hometown.

Common Words with 郗

郗先生 xī xiān shēng

Mr. Xi

郗老师 xī lǎo shī

Teacher Xi

姓郗 xìng xī

Surname Xi

Example Sentences

郗先生在办公室。

xī xiān shēng zài bàn gōng shì

Mr. Xi is in the office.

郗老师教我们中文。

xī lǎo shī jiào wǒ men zhōng wén

Teacher Xi teaches us Chinese.

我的好朋友姓郗。

wǒ de hǎo péng yǒu xìng xī

My best friend's surname is Xi.

Similar Characters Comparison

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Radical
郗 (current)	xī	9	阝
邮	yóu	7	阝
邯	hán	7	阝
邰	tái	7	阝

Practice Writing 郗 (xī)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 郗 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 郗

What are the components of 郗 and how do they relate to its meaning?

郗 is made of the left radical 阝 (hill) and the right part 希 (rare). As a surname, the meaning is not directly derived from these parts; the structure is phonetic, with 希 hinting at the pronunciation xī.

How can I remember the character 郗 using a mnemonic?

What are the key writing tips for 郗?

How is 郗 different from 邮 and 邯?

When and how is 郗 used in modern Chinese?

What common words use 郗?

How to Write 郗 (xī) — Meaning “Xi (a surname)”

Practice Writing 郗 (xī)

How to Write 郗

What Does xī (郗) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 郗

Common Words with 郗

Example Sentences

Similar Characters Comparison

Practice Writing 郗 (xī)

Frequently Asked Questions about 郗

Characters with Radical 阝

Other 9-Stroke Characters