犀

Tap the pinyin to hear it

rhinoceros; sharp

Sound it out + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Ideographic compound (会意字)

An ox 牛 with a tail 尾

Components 尾牛

rhinoceros · Heisig RSH #2138

牛 cow + flag + snowflake

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

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

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
心有灵犀一点通	xīn yǒu líng xī yī diǎn tōng	hearts linked as one, just as the proverbial rhinoceros communicates emotion telepathicall…
灵犀一点通	líng xī yī diǎn tōng	mental rapport; likeness of mind; spiritual link
灵犀相通	líng xī xiāng tōng	kindred spirits
双角犀鸟	shuāng jiǎo xī niǎo	(bird species of China) great hornbill (Buceros bicornis)
白喉犀鸟	bái hóu xī niǎo	(bird species of China) Austen's brown hornbill (Anorrhinus austeni)
木犀肉	mù xi ròu	see 木須肉\|木须肉[mu4 xu1 rou4]
双角犀	shuāng jiǎo xī	two-horned rhinoceros; Dicerorhinini
冠斑犀鸟	guān bān xī niǎo	(bird species of China) oriental pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)
棕颈犀鸟	zōng jǐng xī niǎo	(bird species of China) rufous-necked hornbill (Aceros nipalensis)
犀利	xī lì	sharp; incisive; penetrating
木犀	mù xi	osmanthus
犀鸟	xī niǎo	hornbill
犀牛	xī niú	rhinoceros
灵犀	líng xī	rhinoceros horn, reputed to confer telepathic powers; fig. mutual sensitivity; tacit excha…
花冠皱盔犀鸟	huā guān zhòu kuī xī niǎo	(bird species of China) wreathed hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus)

These characters use 犀 as their sound component — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
犀 sound part	xī	rhinoceros; sharp, tempered
樨	xī	sweet olive; scrambled eggs
墀	chí	porch; courtyard; steps leading into a building