How to Write 豸 (zhì) — Meaning “Legless insect / Beast radical”

Imagine a small dragon with one horn on its head and a long wiggly tail — the top part looks like the horn, and the bottom like the tail. You can also remember that it looks like a "C" with a horn, and it rhymes with "cheese" (zhì), so think of a cheese-eating mythical bug.

Start with the top left-falling stroke (丿), then the horizontal stroke, followed by the hook and the bottom curve. A common mistake is to make the bottom part too wide or to confuse it with 豕; keep the bottom narrow and let the tail curve slightly to the left. Pay attention to the sharp hook after the horizontal, as it gives the character its distinctive shape.

The most common word is 獬豸 (xiè zhì), a mythical creature that represents justice in Chinese mythology. 豸绣 (zhì xiù) refers to official robes decorated with the Xiezhi symbol, and 豸冠 (zhì guān) is a crown worn by ancient officials. These terms mostly appear in classical texts or discussions of historical uniforms.

豸 is rarely used alone in modern Chinese; it mainly appears as part of the word 獬豸 in cultural or historical contexts. The Xiezhi creature is a symbol of justice and righteousness, often compared to a unicorn-like animal that could judge right from wrong. You may see it in museums, books about ancient China, or in legal symbolism.

Common words containing 豸 include: 獬豸 (xiè zhì) — Xiezhi (a mythical creature in Chinese mythology); 豸绣 (zhì xiù) — Xiezhi embroidery (official uniform); 豸冠 (zhì guān) — Xiezhi crown (ancient official hat).