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

性
xìng = xi + (e)ng4
nature / character / property / quality / attribute / sexuality / sex / gender / suffix forming adjective from verb / suffix forming noun from adjective, corresponding to -ness or -ity / essence / CL:個|个[ge4]
性 = 忄 + 生 : Marie Curie had a strong character since she was little. Even in her cradle in the engine's bathroom she was only playing with a flail.
惜
xi̅ = xi + Ø1
to cherish / to begrudge / to pity / Taiwan pr. [xi2]
惜 = 忄 + 昔 : NASA ordered Marie Curie (xi) to do an experiment for them in front of the space station (Ø1). They are spending 2000000000 bucks to see what happens when you crush a milk shake (昔) with a flail (忄) in outer space. Marie Curie thinks it is a pity (惜) and would rather drink her cherished (惜) milk shake rather than crush it.
懈
xiè = xi + e4
lax / negligent
喜
xǐ = xi + Ø3
to be fond of / to like / to enjoy / to be happy / to feel pleased / happiness / delight / glad
喜 = 壴 + 口 : Mnemonic symbol: 喜宴, wedding banquet.

Marie Curie is overjoyed to announce her marriage in the space station. She improvised a wedding banquet with nothing but mandarins and notifies everyone by beating a large drum very quickly with two mandarins.
嬉
xi̅ = xi + Ø1
amusement
霞
xiá = xi + a2
rose-tinted sky or clouds at sunrise or sunset
霞 = 叚 + 雨 : Marie Curie (xi) arrived just inside the ashram's kitchen (a2) to escape the rain (雨) of fake eyes (叚) pouring out of the red clouds (霞) above her.
鲜
鱻
xiǎn = xi + an3
old variant of 鮮|鲜[xian3]
鲜
尟
xiǎn = xi + an3
variant of 鮮|鲜[xian3]
鲜
尠
xiǎn = xi + an3
variant of 尟|鲜[xian3]
鲜
鮮
xia̅n = xi + an1
fresh / bright (in color) / delicious / tasty / delicacy / aquatic foods
鲜 = 羊 + 鱼 : Marie Curie (xi) devours her lunch in front of the anthill (an1). It consists of a dead sheep (羊) and a dead fish (鱼). Marie Curie eats the carcasses and thinks that they are very fresh (鲜) and delicious (鲜). They are, because Marie killed the sheep and the fish just one minute ago.
鲜
鮮
xiǎn = xi + an3
few / rare
鲜
鱻
xia̅n = xi + an1
fish / old variant of 鮮|鲜[xian1]
鲜 = 羊 + 鱼 : Marie Curie (xi) devours her lunch in front of the anthill (an1). It consists of a dead sheep (羊) and a dead fish (鱼). Marie Curie eats the carcasses and thinks that they are very fresh (鲜) and delicious (鲜). They are, because Marie killed the sheep and the fish just one minute ago.
详
詳
xiáng = xi + ang2
detailed / comprehensive
详 = 羊 + 讠 : The sheep (羊) is reading the newest gossip written on an advertising column (讠) in the anglepod's kitchen (ang2). The gossip is about the private life of Marie Curie (xi), which it reports very detailed (详).
祥
xiáng = xi + ang2
auspicious / propitious
祥 = 礻 + 羊 : When Marie Curie (xi) was still in school she once visited the anglepod. In the kitchen (ang2) she met with a sheep (羊) wearing a monk's cowl (礻) which promised her a very auspicious (祥) future.
翔
xiáng = xi + ang2
to soar / to glide / variant of 詳|详[xiang2] / (slang) shit
翔 = 羊 + 羽 : Marie Curie (xi) conducts an experiment in the anglepod's kitchen (ang2). She attached a lot of feathers (羽) to a sheep (羊), and indeed, as she throws the terrified sheep into the air, it starts to soar (翔) through the air like a bird.
羞
xiu̅ = xi + ou1
shy / ashamed / shame / bashful / variant of 饈|馐[xiu1] / delicacies
羞 = 丑 + 羊 : Marie Curie (xi) arranged a blind date for two friends in front of the outhouse (ou1). The two friends are an ox (丑) and a sheep (羊). As they see each other for the first time, both are very shy (羞).
羡
羨
xiàn = xi + an4
to envy
羡 = 次 + 羊 : Marie Curie (xi) envies (羡) the sheep (羊) for that nice cube (次) it has in the anthill's bathroom (an4).
细
細
xì = xi + Ø4
thin or slender / finely particulate / thin and soft / fine / delicate / trifling / (of a sound) quiet / frugal
细 = 田 + 纟 : Marie Curie inspects her farm in the space station's bathroom. She set up a field where innocent silk worms have to die only for the production of fine and slender silk threads.
纤
纖
xia̅n = xi + an1
fine / delicate / minute
纤 = 千 + 纟 : Marie Curie (xi) finds that there are many fine (纤) silk worms (纟) in front of the anthill (a1). She wants to preserve the delicate (纤) worms and thus puts a kilo (千) on them to press and dry them.
锡
錫
xi̅ = xi + Ø1
tin (chemistry) / to bestow / to confer / to grant / Taiwan pr. [xi2]
锡 = 易 + 钅 : Marie Curie (xi) wants to unpack her new puzzle (易) in front of the space station (Ø1). It should be very simple (易) to unpack because it is merely wrapped in tin foil (锡), but Marie just can't manage to unpack the puzzle. In the end she has to use a golden harpoon (钅) to tear the tin foil apart.