殉

Tap the pinyin to hear it

to be buried with the dead; to die for a cause

Sound it out + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

歹 meaning “death” + 旬 sound ( xún )

Components 歹旬

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
因公殉职	yīn gōng xùn zhí	to die in the course of performing one's duty (idiom)
殉国	xùn guó	to die for one's country
殉道	xùn dào	to die for a just cause
殉情	xùn qíng	to die together in the name of love; to sacrifice oneself for love
殉死	xùn sǐ	to be buried alive as sacrifice (together with husband or superior)
殉教	xùn jiào	to die for one's religion
殉节	xùn jié	to sacrifice one's life by loyalty (to one's prince, one's husband etc)
殉难	xùn nàn	to sacrifice oneself in a just cause; a victim of a disaster
殉职	xùn zhí	to die in the line of duty
殉葬	xùn zàng	(of servants etc) to be buried alive with the deceased; (of utensils etc) to be buried wit…

Characters sharing the sound component 旬 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
旬 sound part	xún	ten-day period; period of time
询	xún	to ask about, to inquire into; to consult
徇	xùn	to follow, to comply with; to display
荀	xún	plant, herb; surname
绚	xuàn	variegated, adorned; brilliant
峋	xún	foothill, mountain range
洵	xún	true, real; truly, really
郇	xún	an ancient feudal state in Shaanxi province
恂	xún	careful; honest, sincere; to trust