How to Write 冼 (xiǎn) — Meaning “a Chinese surname (Xian)”

Imagine a person named Xian who is always "cool" (冫, ice) and comes "first" (先) in everything he does. This helps you recall the two parts and the surname meaning.

Write the left radical 冫 first with two dots, the second dot slightly to the right. Then write the right side 先 starting with a horizontal stroke, keeping the whole character balanced — the left part narrow and the right part wider. Be careful not to make the dots too large or the strokes too close together.

冼 is a surname, while 冰 means ice and 冱 means frozen or stopped. Visually, 冼 has the right component 先, 冰 has 水 (water), and 冱 has 互 (mutual). The radical 冫 is shared, so you must focus on the right side to tell them apart.

冼 is only used as a surname, such as in the name of the famous composer 冼星海 (Xian Xinghai). You will see it in titles like 冼先生 (Mr. Xian) or when asking "您姓冼吗?" (Are you surnamed Xian?). It is not a common vocabulary word.

Common words containing 冼 include: 冼先生 (xiǎn xiān shēng) — Mr. Xian; 姓冼 (xìng xiǎn) — surnamed Xian; 冼星海 (xiǎn xīng hǎi) — Xian Xinghai (famous Chinese composer).