Pinyin initial: "xi"

The Pinyin initial "xi" is used in the first half of Pinyin syllables. In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, "xi" belongs to the group of Pinyin initials which are represented in mnemonics by women. You can visit the Pinyin index to see all Pinyin syllables from this mnemonic group, or to see all Pinyin syllables "xi" can appear in.

Mnemonics for xi

Xi is for Marie Curie.
Alternative mnemonic for xi: Xi Shi (西施), one of the renowned Four Beauties of ancient China.

Characters with xi

虾
蝦
xia̅ = xi + a1
shrimp / prawn
虾 = 虫 + 下 : In order to be admitted to the ashram Xi Shi (xi) has to complete a trial in front of it (a1). She has to survive a sea of shrimp (虾) only with the help of a ladder (下) on which she can save herself from the shrimp army. To not make it too easy for her though there's also an army of mosquitoes (虫) harassing her.
见
見
xiàn = xi + an4
to appear / also written 現|现[xian4]
现
現
xiàn = xi + an4
to appear / present / now / existing / current
现 = 王 + 见 : Martin Luther King has a project in which he wants to document the current state of the nation. He has a surveillance camera put up in the anthill's bathroom and interviews Marie Curie about her views about the present time.
希
xi̅ = xi + Ø1
to hope / to admire / variant of 稀[xi1]
希 = 乂 + 布 : Mnemonic symbol: John Hope (the educator).

In front of the space station, John Hope blindfolded Marie Curie. He wants to teach her to follow him, gripping his pliers. Marie hopes that he will lead her back to the space station as soon as possible.
献
獻
xiàn = xi + an4
to offer / to present / to dedicate / to donate / to show / to put on display / worthy person (old)
献 = 南 + 犬 : The Saint Bernard dog (犬) is out of blood to bring to severe emergency spots, so Marie Curie (xi) volunteered to donate (献) blood in the anthill's bathroom (an4). To make her feel comfortable, the Saint Bernard dog set up a palm (南) from the south pacific.
稀
xi̅ = xi + Ø1
rare / uncommon / watery / sparse
稀 = 希 + 禾 : John Hope the Educator (希) teaches Marie Curie (xi) about a very rare (稀) species of bacteria in front of the space station (Ø1). It only grows in watery (稀) cereals (禾) which are stored in the vacuum, like in outer space.
腺
xiàn = xi + an4
gland
些
xie̅ = xi + e1
classifier indicating a small amount or small number greater than 1: some, a few, several
些 = 二 + 此 : Marie Curie is too tired from climbing all the steps of the elevator, so in front of it, preparing for the descent, she couples a couple of capacitors to a couple of boots to automate them.
夏
xià = xi + a4
the Xia or Hsia dynasty c. 2000 BC / Xia of the Sixteen Kingdoms (407-432) / surname Xia
夏 = 𦣻 + 夂 : Mnemonic symbol: a sherpa, 夏尔巴人.

Marie Curie (xi) gives a sherpa (夏) 100 bucks (𦣻) to play a summer song on his flute (𦣻) and dance on high heels (夂) in the ashram's bathroom (a4).
夏
xià = xi + a4
summer
夏 = 𦣻 + 夂 : Mnemonic symbol: a sherpa, 夏尔巴人.

Marie Curie (xi) gives a sherpa (夏) 100 bucks (𦣻) to play a summer song on his flute (𦣻) and dance on high heels (夂) in the ashram's bathroom (a4).
向
嚮
xiàng = xi + ang4
to tend toward / to guide / variant of 向[xiang4]
向 = 丿 + 冋 : In anglepod's bathroom, Marie Curie is being held up at the border control post because she tried to smuggle a sky fruit in a banana.
向 = 丿 + 冋 : Mnemonic symbol: there's a genus of mahogany trees which produce "向天果" or "sky fruit" because, well, they directly face the sky.
向
xiàng = xi + ang4
towards / to face / to turn towards / direction / to support / to side with / shortly before / formerly / always / all along / (suffix) suitable for ... / oriented to ...
向 = 丿 + 冋 : In anglepod's bathroom, Marie Curie is being held up at the border control post because she tried to smuggle a sky fruit in a banana.
向 = 丿 + 冋 : Mnemonic symbol: there's a genus of mahogany trees which produce "向天果" or "sky fruit" because, well, they directly face the sky.
向
xiàng = xi + ang4
surname Xiang
向
曏
xiàng = xi + ang4
variant of 向[xiang4] / direction / orientation / to face / to turn toward / to / towards / shortly before / formerly
向 = 丿 + 冋 : Mnemonic symbol: there's a genus of mahogany trees which produce "向天果" or "sky fruit" because, well, they directly face the sky.
向 = 丿 + 冋 : In anglepod's bathroom, Marie Curie is being held up at the border control post because she tried to smuggle a sky fruit in a banana.
响
響
xiǎng = xi + ang3
echo / sound / noise / to make a sound / to sound / to ring / loud / classifier for noises
响 = 口 + 向 : Inside of the anglepod (ang3), Marie Curie (xi) makes loud noises (响) clashing together a mandarin (口) and a sky fruit (向).
孝
xiào = xi + ao4
filial piety or obedience / mourning apparel
孝 = ⺹ + 子 : Mnemonic symbol: a mourning veil.

Xi Shi (xi) was breeding an egg (子) in the aorta's bathroom (ao4), and she even put a crown (⺹) on it (the crown is on top of the egg: 孝), so much she loved her little prince. Unfortunately the egg died, and thus Marie Curie put on her mourning veil (孝).
效
xiào = xi + ao4
effect / efficacy / to imitate
效 = 交 + 攵 : Marie Curie (xi) and Linus Pauling (交) are testing their new special effects (效) equipment in the aorta's bathroom (ao4). Marie creates lots of fog by crushing a rock with a sledgehammer (攵), and Linus creates lots of sparks by crushing a flint stone with a sledgehammer.
效
俲
xiào = xi + ao4
variant of 傚|效[xiao4]
效 = 交 + 攵 : Marie Curie (xi) and Linus Pauling (交) are testing their new special effects (效) equipment in the aorta's bathroom (ao4). Marie creates lots of fog by crushing a rock with a sledgehammer (攵), and Linus creates lots of sparks by crushing a flint stone with a sledgehammer.
效
傚
xiào = xi + ao4
variant of 效[xiao4] / to imitate
效 = 交 + 攵 : Marie Curie (xi) and Linus Pauling (交) are testing their new special effects (效) equipment in the aorta's bathroom (ao4). Marie creates lots of fog by crushing a rock with a sledgehammer (攵), and Linus creates lots of sparks by crushing a flint stone with a sledgehammer.
效
効
xiào = xi + ao4
variant of 效[xiao4]
效 = 交 + 攵 : Marie Curie (xi) and Linus Pauling (交) are testing their new special effects (效) equipment in the aorta's bathroom (ao4). Marie creates lots of fog by crushing a rock with a sledgehammer (攵), and Linus creates lots of sparks by crushing a flint stone with a sledgehammer.