How to Write 勋 (xūn) — Meaning “merit; achievement; medal”

Imagine a 'member' (员) putting all their 'strength' (力) into a task, and as a result they receive a shiny 'medal' (勋). The visual of a person earning a medal through hard work helps link the components to the meaning.

Write the left part 员 first: top to bottom, then the inner mouth and person strokes. The right part 力 is written last: horizontal stroke, then a bent hook. A common mistake is making the left side too wide; keep it narrow so the character stays balanced.

勋 (xūn) means 'merit' and contains 员 (person) plus 力 (strength). 助 (zhù) means 'help' and uses 且 (moreover) plus 力, while 努 (nǔ) means 'exert' and combines 奴 (slave) with 力. Focus on the left component: 员 vs 且 vs 奴 to tell them apart.

勋 appears in words like 勋章 (medal) and 功勋 (distinguished service). It is often used in formal or historical contexts, such as awarding military or civil medals. In Chinese culture, 勋 carries a positive connotation of honor earned through hard work or bravery.

Common words containing 勋 include: 勋章 (xūn zhāng) — medal; decoration; 功勋 (gōng xūn) — distinguished service / merit; 勋爵 (xūn jué) — lord; knight; peerage.