How to Write 徙 (xǐ) — Meaning “To move; to migrate.”

Picture a person (彳) taking a deliberate step (步) to move to a new home. The left side looks like a walking person and the right side shows a foot stepping, so imagine 'step by step migration.'

Write the left radical 彳 first (three strokes: left-right-left), then the right part 步. The right part 步 requires a small dot at the top left of the '少' shape; forgetting this dot is a common mistake. Also ensure the overall width is balanced, with 彳 taking about one-third of the space.

待 has the right side 寺 (temple) and means 'to wait,' while 徇 has 旬 (ten days) and means 'to follow or obey.' 徙 uses 步 (step) as its right side, so its meaning centers on moving or migrating. Visually, 步 has a distinctive dot and stroke pattern that differs from 寺 and 旬.

徙 appears in formal or literary terms such as 迁徙 (migration, especially of animals or populations) and 徙居 (moving house). A famous cultural reference is the idiom 徙木立信 from Shang Yang's reforms, where moving a log demonstrated the ruler's trustworthiness.

Common words containing 徙 include: 迁徙 (qiān xǐ) — to migrate; to move; 徙居 (xǐ jū) — To move house; to change residence.; 迁徙路径 (qiān xǐ lù jìng) — migration path; migration route.