脅 meaning and stroke order
To threaten, to coerce; ribs, flank
How to write 脅, stroke by stroke
10 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 脅
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- flank (the side of one's torso)
- to coerce
- to threaten
How 脅 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To control 劦 another's body ⺼.
Radical: ⺼ (meat), shared by 176 characters on this site.
How to remember 脅
脅 stacks 劦 (three 力 "strength" parts joined together) on top of ⺼ (flesh, body). Picture three strong hands pressing down on someone's body to control them, which is how you threaten or coerce a person.
Today 脅 mostly appears in words about threats and pressure, such as 威脅 (wēixié, to threaten) and 脅迫 (xiépò, to coerce). The older sense of "flank" or "ribs" survives mainly in written or medical language. Example: 他受到了威脅。(Tā shòudào le wēixié.) He was threatened.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 脅 with 協 (xié, to cooperate), because both contain 劦 and share the same sound. 脅 has flesh ⺼ underneath and is about force, while 協 has 十 on the left and is about working together.
Common words with 脅
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
Questions about 脅
How many strokes are in 脅?
脅 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 脅 mean?
脅 (xié) means to threaten, to coerce; ribs, flank. A common word with it is 威胁 (wēixié), meaning "to threaten; to menace".
How do you pronounce 脅?
脅 is pronounced xié, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 脅?
The radical of 脅 is ⺼, which carries the idea of "meat". Dictionaries list 脅 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 脅?
脅 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 胁, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 脅 and 胁?
They are the same character with the same meaning and pronunciation. 脅 is the form used in traditional Chinese and in Japanese, while 胁 is the simplified form used in mainland China, so you will see 威胁 in simplified texts.
Can 脅 be used alone as a verb?
In modern speech it is rarely used alone. People usually say 威脅 or 脅迫 instead, and the single character mostly appears in fixed phrases or formal writing.