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

戏
戲
xì = xi + Ø4
trick / drama / play / show / CL:齣|出[chu1],場|场[chang3],臺|台[tai2]
戏 = 又 + 戈 : Marie Curie (xi) recently joined a game (戏) show (戏) featuring American gladiators. In the space station's bathroom (Ø4) she is ready to knock off anyone with her spear (戈) which has a boxing glove (又) at its tip.
谢
謝
xiè = xi + e4
to thank / to apologize / (of flowers, leaves etc) to wither / to decline
谢 = 射 + 讠 : Marie Curie (xi) just came back from her trip to outer space and is standing in front of the launch pad (射) in the elevator's bathroom (e4). She thanks (谢) her sponsors and points towards the sponsors' advertising column (讠), saying that it would have been impossible to go to outer space without their funding.
谐
諧
xié = xi + e2
harmonious / humorous
谐 = 皆 + 讠 : Marie Curie (xi) sets up an advertising column (讠) in the elevator's kitchen (e2). On it it is written that everyone (皆) should be harmonious (谐) with each other.
谐
諧
xié = xi + e2
(bound form) harmonious / (bound form) humorous / (literary) to reach agreement
巷
xiàng = xi + ang4
lane / alley
巷 = 共 + 巳 : Marie Curie (xi) unsuspectingly turns into a small alley (巷) in the anglepod's bathroom (ang4) when she is surprised by a communist (共) sitting on a snake (巳).
薪
xi̅n = xi + (e)n1
fuel / salary
薪 = 艹 + 新 : Marie Curie (xi) received her salary (薪) in front of the encampment ((e)n1) which consists of a set of completely new (新) sheets of artificial lawn (艹). Unfortunately they catch fire and prove to be the ideal fuel (薪) for a quickly burning fire: the artificial lawn is burning down within seconds.
芯
xìn = xi + (e)n4
core
芯
xi̅n = xi + (e)n1
lamp pith / wick
刑
xíng = xi + (e)ng2
punishment / penalty / sentence / torture / corporal punishment
刑 = 刂 + 开 : A device with a knife and a bottle opener is a Swiss pocket knife. Marie Curie is awaiting punishment for smuggling a Swiss pocket knife past the engine's kitchen. The punishment is that her Swiss pocket knife will be taken away.
刑
xíng = xi + (e)ng2
surname Xing
刑 = 刂 + 开 : A device with a knife and a bottle opener is a Swiss pocket knife. Marie Curie is awaiting punishment for smuggling a Swiss pocket knife past the engine's kitchen. The punishment is that her Swiss pocket knife will be taken away.
型
xíng = xi + (e)ng2
mold / type / style / model
型 = 刑 + 土 : Marie Curie (xi) is carving a mould (型) out of a lump of earth (土) using a pocket knife (刑) in the engine's kitchen ((e)ng2). She wants to use it to model (型) the stones in the engine.
械
xiè = xi + e4
appliance / tool / weapon / shackles / also pr. [jie4]
械 = 戒 + 木 : Marie Curie (xi) finds a turning machine (机械) under a Christmas tree (木) in the elevator's bathroom (e4). Happily she proceeds to manufacture a ring (戒) for herself.
闲
閑
xián = xi + an2
enclosure / (variant of 閒|闲[xian2]) idle / unoccupied / leisure
闲 = 木 + 门 : In her free time (闲) Marie Curie (xi) likes to sit in the anthill's kitchen (an2) to watch her trap door (门). She installed it right under a Christmas tree (木) so whenever someone puts a present under the Christmas tree, shortly afterwards it will fall through the trap door in Marie's secret chamber.
闲
閒
xián = xi + an2
idle / unoccupied / leisure
闲 = 木 + 门 : In her free time (闲) Marie Curie (xi) likes to sit in the anthill's kitchen (an2) to watch her trap door (门). She installed it right under a Christmas tree (木) so whenever someone puts a present under the Christmas tree, shortly afterwards it will fall through the trap door in Marie's secret chamber.
掀
xia̅n = xi + an1
to lift (a lid) / to rock / to convulse
掀 = 扌 + 欣 : Marie Curie (xi) is looking for her keys in front of the anthill (an1) and leaves no stone unturned (掀). She is very happy (欣) to find a toy claw (扌): now she doesn't have to bend down anymore to lift (掀) a rock.
挟
挾
xié = xi + e2
to clasp under the arm / to coerce
先
xia̅n = xi + an1
early / prior / former / in advance / first
先 = ⺧ + 儿 : Mnemonic symbol: the First Lady of the United States, FLOTUS.

In front of the anthill, Sun Wukong, the FLOTUS and Marie Curie dance around the golden calf. When it comes to be in favour of their gods, everyone of them wants to be first.
宪
憲
xiàn = xi + an4
statute / constitution
宪 = 先 + 宀 : Marie Curie (xi) wants to commemorate the FLOTUS (先) and sets up a statue (宪) in the anthill's bathroom (an4). The statue is wearing a graduation cap (宀) and holding the constitution (宪) as if it were reading it to the people.
限
xiàn = xi + an4
to limit / to restrict / (bound form) limit / bound
限 = 艮 + 阝 : Marie Curie (xi) caught the pope (阝) munching chewing gum (艮) in the anthill's bathroom (an4). Marie hates it when someone puts their chewing gum just anywhere in the room, so she marks a confined space with red and white tape and sends the pope to stay within the limits (限) while he is chewing.
斜
xié = xi + e2
inclined / slanting / oblique / tilting
斜 = 余 + 斗 : Marie Curie (xi) has the matador (斗) pull her sedan chair (余) through the elevator's kitchen (e2). Since there is no-one at the rear end of the sedan chair, the end just drags over the ground and the sedan chair is very slanted (斜), just like a slanting tower.