How to Write 屃 (xì) — Meaning “gigantic tortoise (mythology)”

Picture a dead body (尸) lying on top of a shell (贝). This strange image reminds you of a giant mythical tortoise carrying a heavy stone tablet. Alternatively, think of the shell as the turtle's back under a roof-like body.

Write the top radical 尸 first in three strokes: horizontal fold, horizontal line, then a left-falling stroke. Then add 贝 below in four strokes: vertical, horizontal fold, left-falling, and a dot. Make sure the 贝 is centered and not too wide; a common mistake is making the top part too large.

The lower part of each character is different: 屃 has 贝 (shell), 尻 has 九 (nine), and 尼 has 匕 (dagger). In meaning, 屃 refers to a mythical tortoise, 尻 means buttocks, and 尼 means Buddhist nun. They are visually distinct once you notice the bottom component.

屃 is extremely rare and appears almost only in the word 赑屃 (bì xì), the name of a mythical turtle-like creature that carries stone steles in ancient Chinese temples. You might encounter it in cultural or historical texts about architecture or mythology. It is not used in daily conversation.

Common words containing 屃 include: 赑屃 (bì xì) — Bixi (a mythical turtle-like creature); 屃屃 (xì xì) — hardworking; robust; 碑屃 (bēi xì) — Bixi (mythical tortoise supporting a stele).