歙 (xī) · to breathe in; to draw in

Meanings

1 to breathe in; to draw in
2 to contract; to gather together

Characters

歙

xī

to breathe in; to draw in

Examples

HSK 7-9

将欲歙之，必固张之。

Jiāng yù xī zhī, bì gù zhāng zhī.

What you wish to draw in, you must first stretch out.

Tips

register

The 歙 reading ('draw in, contract') is classical, famous from a line in 《老子》. The everyday reading is the place name 歙 in 歙县.

Components

radical

欠 qiàn

to gape; breath

Right side is the 欠 radical (an open mouth exhaling), which suits the original 'inhale / draw breath in' meaning of the 歙 reading.

phonetic

翕 xī

to draw together; sound element

Left portion 翕 ('to close up, draw in') is the sound-and-sense element behind the 歙 reading; the place-name reading 歙 is a separate fixed pronunciation.

Stroke Order

歙 xī

Related Words

歙砚 shèyàn

She inkstone / inkstone from She County in Anhui, one of China's four famous inkstones

凑 còu HSK 7-9 #5,498

to gather together / to collect / to piece together / to move close to

搂 lōu #9,299

to draw toward oneself; to gather up; to rake in / to gather up (one's gown or sleeves) / to grab (money); to extort

共度 gòngdù #4,741

to spend (time) together / to go through together

斗 dòu HSK 7-9 #2,761

to fight; to struggle / to contend; to compete / to condemn; to censure (esp. in political struggle sessions) / to put together; to come together

聚 jù HSK 4 #2,544

to gather; to assemble; to get together

聚会 jùhuì HSK 4 #1,302

party; gathering; get-together / to get together; to meet up

和 hé HSK 1 #33

and; together with; with / harmony; peace / sum (math) / to make peace; to settle / to draw; to tie (sports) / harmonious / Japan; Japanese

汇 huì HSK 6 #8,797

to remit (money); to transfer / to converge; to gather together / exchange (currency)

联欢 liánhuān HSK 7-9 #53,432

to have a get-together / to celebrate together / social gathering