How to Write 仙 (xiān) — Meaning “Immortal; fairy”

Picture a person (亻) climbing up a tall mountain (山) to reach a magical realm of immortals. The mountain shape on the right is like a peak with three strokes, and the person on the left looks like a standing figure. This mental image helps you remember both the components and the meaning.

Start with the left radical 亻: write a left-falling stroke (丿) first, then a vertical stroke (丨) that is straight and slightly longer. Next write the right part 山: middle vertical stroke (丨), then left vertical fold (𠃊), last the right vertical (丨). Keep the left part narrow and the right part balanced – common mistakes include making the person too wide or the mountain too small.

仙 (xiān) has the mountain component 山 on the right, meaning 'immortal'. 亿 (yì) has 乙 (a hook stroke) instead, meaning 'one hundred million'. 什 (shén) has 十 (ten) on the right, meaning 'what' or 'ten' (in some contexts). Visually, 仙's right side is peaked like a mountain, while 亿 ends in a curved hook and 什 has a simple cross.

仙 appears in common words like 神仙 (shén xiān, 'immortal being'), 仙女 (xiān nǚ, 'fairy maiden'), and 仙人掌 (xiān rén zhǎng, 'cactus', literally 'immortal's palm'). In Chinese culture, 仙 is deeply tied to Daoist legends of enlightened beings who live in mountains, symbolizing transcendence and eternal life. It is also a popular element in fantasy stories and games.

Common words containing 仙 include: 神仙 (shén xiān) — Immortal; celestial being; 仙人掌 (xiān rén zhǎng) — Cactus; 仙女 (xiān nǚ) — Fairy; celestial maiden.