double x

Origin & mnemonic

This radical derives from a pictographic form in oracle-bone script, representing two small dots or diagonal strokes standing side by side, commonly used to denote small objects or odd/unusual things.

Mnemonic: Two parallel diagonal strokes look like tiny arrows pointing at something odd or trivial.

• 爻yáo🔊

  the solid and broken lines of the eight trigrams 八卦[ba1 gua4], e.g. ☶

  4 strokes

• 爽shuǎng🔊

  bright

  HSK 6

  11 strokes

• 尔ěr🔊

  thus

  14 strokes