夔 meaning and stroke order
One-legged monster; walrus
How to write 夔, stroke by stroke
21 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
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- 17
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- 19
- 20
- 21
How 夔 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A monster with a face, a nose 自, and one foot 夊.
Radical: 夊 (to go slowly), shared by 5 characters on this site.
How to remember 夔
Picture a strange creature built from parts: a face with a nose 自 (zì) in the middle and a single dragging foot 夊 at the bottom. One nose, one foot, one odd monster: that is 夔 (kuí).
夔 is rare in modern Chinese and mostly appears in classical texts, myths, place names, and surnames. In legend it is a one-legged beast whose skin was made into a drum, and it also names a court music master of ancient times. Example: 夔是古代传说中的怪兽。(Kuí shì gǔdài chuánshuō zhōng de guàishòu.) The Kui is a monster from ancient legend.
Common mistake: Learners often lose track of the middle row and write the pieces in the wrong order, or swap the bottom 夊 for the similar 攵 or 夂. Read it as nose 自 in the middle, then foot 夊 at the base.
Questions about 夔
How many strokes are in 夔?
夔 is written with 21 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 夔 mean?
夔 (kuí) means one-legged monster; walrus.
How do you pronounce 夔?
夔 is pronounced kuí, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 夔?
The radical of 夔 is 夊, which carries the idea of "to go slowly". Dictionaries list 夔 under this radical.
Is 夔 used as a surname or place name?
Yes. 夔 (Kuí) is a rare surname, and it appears in the historical name 夔州 (Kuízhōu), an old prefecture around present day Fengjie in Chongqing.
What is a 夔龙 (kuílóng)?
夔龙 is a one-legged dragon-like design found on ancient Chinese bronzes and decorations. You will see the term in museum labels and art history writing.