How to Write 旭 (xù) — Meaning “rising sun; dawn”

Picture the sun (日) climbing up just like the number nine (九) rising at nine o'clock in the morning. This mental image of the sun at nine o'clock helps you recall that 旭 means the rising sun. The shape of 九 even looks like a small hill the sun is rising over.

Stroke order: first write 日 (vertical left, top horizontal, inner horizontal, bottom horizontal), then 九 (left-falling stroke, then horizontal bent hook). Keep the 日 portion narrow and the 九 part slightly wider, with its hook curving outward. A common mistake is making the 日 too wide or misaligning the 九 so it floats away from the sun radical.

日 (rì) simply means "sun," while 旭 (xù) specifically describes the rising sun with its extra component 九. 旦 (dàn) means "dawn" and shows the sun (日) above a horizontal line (一) representing the horizon. In contrast, 旭 emphasizes the moment of sunrise with the sun's rays spreading, not just the sun above the horizon.

旭 appears in formal or literary contexts, such as in idioms like 旭日东升 (the sun rises in the east, symbolizing a new beginning). It is also common in given names (e.g., 旭日) to express hope and brightness. While not used in everyday speech, it carries a positive, poetic feel in written Chinese.

Common words containing 旭 include: 旭日 (xù rì) — the rising sun; 旭光 (xù guāng) — rays of the rising sun; 旭日东升 (xù rì dōng shēng) — the sun rises in the east.