麾 meaning and stroke order
Pennant, flag, banner; to signal to
How to write 麾, stroke by stroke
15 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 麾
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- signal flag
- to signal
How 麾 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 麻 (hemp), shared by 5 characters on this site.
How to remember 麾
Picture a flag woven from hemp 麻 (má) with a fringe of fur or feathers 毛 (máo) hanging below it. A commander waves this banner to signal the troops.
Today 麾 appears mostly in formal or literary words, especially 麾下 (huīxià), meaning the troops or people under someone's command. Example: 他麾下有一万名士兵。(Tā huīxià yǒu yí wàn míng shìbīng.) He has ten thousand soldiers under his command.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 麾 with 挥 (huī, to wave), since both are read huī and relate to signaling. Use 挥 in everyday words like 指挥 (zhǐhuī) and 发挥 (fāhuī), and keep 麾 for the flag sense and 麾下.
Common words with 麾
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 麾下 | huīxià | troops; subordinates |
Questions about 麾
How many strokes are in 麾?
麾 is written with 15 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 麾 mean?
麾 (huī) means pennant, flag, banner; to signal to. A common word with it is 麾下 (huīxià), meaning "troops; subordinates".
How do you pronounce 麾?
麾 is pronounced huī, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 麾?
The radical of 麾 is 麻, which carries the idea of "hemp". Dictionaries list 麾 under this radical.
Can 麾下 be used outside the military?
Yes. It can describe anyone's team or followers, for example players under a coach or employees under a boss. It still sounds formal and a little literary.
Is 麾 used on its own in modern Chinese?
Rarely. As a standalone word it mostly appears in classical texts or historical novels, meaning a commander's signal flag or the act of directing with it.