How to Write 啸 (xiào) — Meaning “to whistle; to roar; to howl”

Imagine a person making a loud ‘shout’ (sounds like xiào) by putting their hand to their mouth (口) like a megaphone. The right side 肃 looks like a musical note or a trumpet, reminding you of a long, piercing whistle. So, think: ‘A mouth (口) makes a sharp shriek (like xiào) with a trumpet-like shape.’

The right side 肃 has a specific stroke order: first the horizontal strokes, then the vertical, then a short dash, and finally the leaning strokes. A common mistake is to write the left radical 口 too small or too large—it should be about one-third of the character’s width and sit high. Keep the overall shape balanced, with the right part slightly taller than the left.

While 啸 means a loud, drawn-out whistle or roar, 呲 (cī/zī) usually means to show one’s teeth or to scold, and 咠 (qì) means to whisper or speak in a low voice. Visually, 啸 has 口 on the left and 肃 (complex, 8 strokes) on the right, whereas 呲 has 口 plus 此 (cǐ) and 咠 has 口 plus 口 (two mouths stacked). Their meanings and sounds are completely different.

You most often see 啸 in compound words like 海啸 (hǎi xiào, tsunami) and 呼啸 (hū xiào, to whistle/roar of wind or bullets). In news or science, 海啸 refers specifically to ocean waves caused by earthquakes, while 呼啸 describes strong winds or high-speed trains. There is no special cultural taboo, but the character evokes powerful, natural sounds.

Common words containing 啸 include: 海啸 (hǎi xiào) — tsunami; 呼啸 (hū xiào) — to whistle / to roar (of wind or bullets); 啸声 (xiào shēng) — whistling or roaring sound.