How to Write 邪 (xié) — Meaning “Evil / Wicked”

Imagine a 阝 (hill) on the left and a 牙 (tooth) on the right — picture a crooked tooth-shaped path on a sinister hill that leads to evil. The 'tooth' (牙) looks like a jagged line, reminding you that this character is about something sharp and harmful. This visual of a dangerous hill with a twisted tooth helps link to the meaning 'evil'.

Write 邪 starting with the left radical 阝: first the horizontal hook (㇆), then the vertical stroke, and then the right component 牙: horizontal, vertical hook, left-falling stroke, and right-falling stroke — 6 strokes total. A common mistake is making the right part 牙 too wide or confusing its strokes with the similar-looking 邪's right side. Keep the left radical narrow and the right side balanced.

邪 (xié) means 'evil' and has the component 牙 (tooth) on the right, while 邓 (Dèng) is a surname with 又 (again) on the right, and 邗 (Hán) is a place name with 干 (dry) on the right. Visual difference: 邪's right side has a slanted top and a curved hook, unlike the straight lines in 邓 and 邗. Remember: 邪 = hill + crooked tooth, the others have different right parts giving different meanings.

邪 is used in words like 邪恶 (xié è, 'evil/wickedness') and 邪气 (xié qì, 'evil influence'), often describing moral corruption or supernatural bad forces. In Chinese culture, 邪 is linked to traditional beliefs about harmful spirits (邪气) that can cause misfortune, so it appears in idioms like 歪门邪道 (wāi mén xié dào, 'dishonest methods'). It is not common in daily conversation but is important in literature, religion, and warnings about bad behavior.

Common words containing 邪 include: 邪恶 (xié è) — Evil / Wickedness; 邪气 (xié qì) — Evil influence / Malicious spirit; 歪门邪道 (wāi mén xié dào) — Dishonest ways; underhanded methods.