Sound Clues (Phonetic)
昔

昔

xīSound ClueSound clue Xī (Past / Former)
Strokes 8 strokes
Clue Type Sound Clues (Phonetic)
Derivatives 6 chars
HSK Words 5 words
Core Meaning

Days gone by, past, sound clue for xī / cuò / jiè

Decomposition & Mnemonic

Look for 昔 inside new characters. It often works like a xī sound clue; the changing part usually tells you the meaning area.

法

3-Step Analysis & Application Strategy

3-step strategic thinking process to master characters containing this component

01

Identify component 昔

Locate component 昔 inside the target character before synthesizing the full glyph.

02

Leverage phonetic sound clue (xī)

Use 昔 as a sound anchor; the character has high likelihood of sharing pronunciation or rhyming with "xī".

03

Analyze combined elements & verify

Examine the partnering radical or component to verify accurate tone, definition, and stroke order.

构

Key Derivative Characters (6 characters)

Click any character to view animated stroke order or practice writing.

惜
xīMeaning Clue
忄

to cherish, to regret, to spare

借
jièMeaning Clue
亻

to lend

措
cuòMeaning Clue
扌

to arrange, to handle, to manage

醋
cùMeaning Clue
酉

vinegar

蜡
làMeaning Clue
虫

wax

鹊
quèMeaning Clue
鸟

magpie (a bird)

词

Practical HSK Vocabulary (5)

Click any word to listen to standard native pronunciation

问

Component Learning FAQs

Frequently asked questions about component 昔

What role does component 昔 play in Chinese characters?

昔 (xī) is a core Hanzi building block serving as a Phonetic Sound Clue, present in key composite characters on Deetigo.

How can I use component 昔 to memorize characters faster?

When encountering a new character with 昔, use "xī" as a phonetic anchor to guess its pronunciation, then check the remaining radical for semantic meaning.