How to Write 袭 (xí) — Meaning “To attack or to inherit”

Imagine a dragon (龙) putting on a coat (衣) to launch a surprise attack. The dragon wearing clothes is unusual, so it helps you recall that 袭 means both "to attack" and "to inherit." Another trick: think of "xi" as in "X-iting" (exiting) suddenly, matching the sudden strike meaning.

The top part 龙 is written first: horizontal stroke, left-falling stroke, curved hook, then left-falling stroke and horizontal. The bottom 衣 starts with a left-falling stroke, then vertical hook, left-falling stroke, vertical lift, and finally left-falling and right-falling strokes. A common mistake is making the curved hook too straight or forgetting the vertical lift in 衣, which should be a short upward stroke.

袭 has 龙 (dragon) on top, giving it a more complex look, while 衮 has 公 (public) on top and means "imperial robes." 衰 has a different top part (like a square with a vertical line) and means "to decline." Visual clue: 袭 looks like a dragon wearing clothes, 衮 looks like a public robe, and 衰 looks like a worn-out garment.

袭 appears in common words like 袭击 (xí jī, to raid), 抄袭 (chāo xí, to plagiarize), and 袭来 (xí lái, to strike suddenly). It is also used in names and historical contexts, such as 袭人 (a character in Dream of the Red Chamber), where it conveys the idea of "inheriting" or "following." The dual meanings of attack and inheritance reflect its original connection to clothing that can be passed down or used for surprise.

Common words containing 袭 include: 袭击 (xí jī) — To attack or raid; 抄袭 (chāo xí) — to plagiarize; 袭来 (xí lái) — To strike or approach suddenly.