How to Write 枵 (xiāo) — Meaning “hollow; empty; thin”

Imagine a hollow tree trunk with a sign (号) nailed onto it that reads 'Empty Inside.' The radical 木 (tree) and the sound component 号 together create a picture of a marked hollow tree. This visual helps you recall that 枵 means hollow or empty.

Write the left radical 木 first (horizontal, vertical, left-falling stroke, right-falling stroke, then a left dash and right dot). The right part 号 starts with the top 'mouth' (竖折折钩) then the bottom horizontal stroke and hook. A common mistake is making the left 木 too wide; keep it narrow so the right side fits neatly.

枵 (xiāo) means hollow or empty, while 杆 (gǎn) means pole or rod, and 杈 (chà) means fork or branch. Visually, 枵 has the right side 号 (a sign), 杆 has the right side 干 (dry), and 杈 has the right side 叉 (fork). Focus on the different right-side components to tell them apart.

枵 is not common in daily speech but appears in literary or formal contexts, especially in the word 枵腹 (empty stomach, hungry). It is also used in the idiom 枵腹从公, meaning 'to work on an empty stomach,' praising dedication. Its meaning 'thin' or 'flimsy' (枵薄) is rare but can describe weak materials.

Common words containing 枵 include: 枵腹 (xiāo fù) — empty stomach; hungry; 枵薄 (xiāo báo) — thin; flimsy; 枵然 (xiāo rán) — empty; hollow.