How to Write 玺 (xǐ) — Meaning “imperial seal”

Imagine a royal "seal" made of precious jade (玉) that you press onto documents; the lower part 尔 looks like a small stamp pad or the impression left by the seal. Think of “imperial seal” as a jade stamp that only the emperor uses. Visualizing a jade square with a handle can help link the shape to its meaning.

Write the top radical 玉 first: horizontal, horizontal, vertical, horizontal, and dot (the dot is often missed). Then write the lower part 尔: left-falling stroke, horizontal hook, and two small strokes (left dot, right dot). A common mistake is making the lower 尔 too wide; keep it narrow and centered under the jade radical.

The most common word is 玉玺 (yù xǐ), meaning "imperial jade seal," used to refer to the official seal of Chinese emperors. 印玺 (yìn xǐ) and 玺印 (xǐ yìn) also mean "imperial seal" or "official stamp" and appear in historical or ceremonial contexts. These terms are rarely used in daily conversation and are mostly seen in history books or museum descriptions.

In modern Chinese, 玺 is almost exclusively used in historical or archaeological contexts, such as discussing ancient artifacts. It carries a strong cultural connotation of imperial authority and legitimacy, as the possession of the imperial seal symbolized the right to rule. You might encounter it in museums or when reading about Chinese history, but it is not used in everyday language.

Common words containing 玺 include: 玉玺 (yù xǐ) — Imperial jade seal; 印玺 (yìn xǐ) — imperial seal; 玺印 (xǐ yìn) — imperial seal / stamp.