How to Write 髹 (xiū) — Meaning “to lacquer”

Imagine a painter using a brush made of hair (髟) to apply lacquer, then taking a rest (休) while it dries. The visual of a 'hair brush resting' links the parts to the meaning of lacquering. This trick helps associate the shape with the action.

Pay attention to the balance: the top radical 髟 should be wide enough to cover the bottom part, and the bottom 休 must be centered and compact. A common mistake is making the 木 in 休 too tall, which throws off the proportion. Keep the horizontal strokes in 髟 evenly spaced.

All three share the radical 髟, but they have different bottom parts: 髹 has 休 (rest), 髦 has 毛 (hair), and 髫 has 召 (to call). Their meanings are also distinct: 髹 means 'to lacquer,' 髦 means 'elegant hair or a mane,' and 髫 refers to a child's hairstyle. Focus on the bottom component to tell them apart.

髹 is a specialized character used mainly in the context of traditional lacquer craft, such as 髹漆 (applying lacquer) and 髹饰 (lacquer decoration). You will see it in museum descriptions of lacquerware or in books about Chinese handicrafts. It is not used in everyday conversation but remains important for cultural heritage.

Common words containing 髹 include: 髹漆 (xiū qī) — to apply lacquer; 髹饰 (xiū shì) — lacquer decoration; 髹工 (xiū gōng) — lacquerwork; lacquerer.