Writing Balance Rule: The left component (月/肉) is narrower and slightly lower, while the right component (力) is bolder and stands firm, ensuring a stable sideways balance.
Simplification Logic: The traditional form 脅 also uses 月 (flesh/body) and 力 (strength/power), but simplified fonts standardise the component shapes slightly for cleaner rendering.
1. Meaning
to coerce, to threaten
flank (the side of the body between ribs and hips)
VerbFormal#actions#emotions#body parts
Sample Usage
他试图胁迫我改变主意。
Tā shìtú xiépò wǒ gǎibiàn zhǔyì.
He tried to coerce me into changing my mind.
任何威胁都不能让我屈服。
Rènhé wēixié dōu bùnéng ràng wǒ qūfú.
No threat can make me yield.
2. Sound
/[ɕi̯e³⁵]/Tone: 35
胁
xiéxie2
|
++
´(35)
=xié
Initial Consonant
x
Type: Alveolo-Palatal Fricative
Sounds like: sh sound pronounced with the tongue blade near the hard palate
Unaspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: Hissing friction with lips stretched wide in a smile.
Tongue & Mouth Position: The tip of the tongue rests gently behind the lower front teeth while the blade rises close to the hard palate.
Final Rhyme
ie
Vowel Group: -e vowel group
Sounds like: rhymes with 'ye' in 'yes'
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'yeh'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T2 (35)
3 → 5 (35)
2nd Tone (Mid-Rising)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 2 is a rising pitch (35), matching an incredulous English 'Huh?' or rising question intonation.
👂
Listening trap: Confusing the alveolo-palatal initial [ɕ] with retroflex [ʂ] (sh) or dental [s]. Make sure your tongue is flat and forward against the lower teeth ridge, not curled back.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: Tone 2 rises like asking a question in English: 'What?' or 'Really?', starting from a middle pitch and shooting straight up to the ceiling.
3. Writing
Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 10 strokes
Writing Balance Rule: The left component (月/肉) is narrower and slightly lower, while the right component (力) is bolder and stands firm, ensuring a stable sideways balance.
Simplification Logic: The traditional form 脅 also uses 月 (flesh/body) and 力 (strength/power), but simplified fonts standardise the component shapes slightly for cleaner rendering.
4. Components
Radical力 · Power Radical (strength, force)
Semantic Clue (形旁):月 (Represents the flesh or ribcage (the side of the body))
Phonetic Clue (声旁):去 (original sound: xie)
A person's flesh/ribs (月) subjected to external force or strength (力) is under threat or coercion, squeezing the body's flank.
月 flesh, body side, ribs
力 strength, power, force
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)
Origin: Originally combined 月 (body/flesh) with a phonetic indicator. The body's flank or ribs were associated with being constrained or squeezed by force.
Semantic Evolution: From the physical body part (flank, ribs) to the metaphorical act of pressing upon someone's side to force them—leading to coercion and threats.
In classical texts, it frequently refers to the physical ribcage or armpits before expanding into psychological pressure.
6. Sinosphere
🇻🇳
Sino-Vietnamese
hiếp
The Chinese Tone 2 (rising) corresponds roughly to a high rising tone variant in Vietnamese.
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: キョウ / Kun: おびや.かす, わき
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
협
Sound Shift Bridge: The initial 'xi-' in Mandarin often bridges to 'h-' or 'ky-' in neighbouring Sinospheric vocabulary (e.g., Sino-Vietnamese 'hiếp', Japanese 'kyou').
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story
Imagine applying physical **strength** (力) to someone's **ribs/flank** (月) to **coerce** and **threaten** them into giving up their secrets.
Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
协
xiéto cooperateReplaces the right side with 十 (ten), meaning ten forces cooperating together.
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
协(xié)
胁 has 力 (force) for coercion/threats, whereas 协 has 十 (ten) for cooperation and working together.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
面对不合理的[___]，我们绝不能妥协。
Clue: wēi xié
Common Learner Pitfall
Confusing 胁 (xié - coerce/threaten) with 协 (xié - cooperate), which completely flips the moral direction from malicious pressure to friendly teamwork.
Memory Prompts
Recognition: When you see 胁 with 力 and 月, what core ideas of body pressure or coercion come to mind?
Production: How do you write the character for 'to coerce / threaten' (xié), which combines the body/flesh radical with force?
Real-World Video Context
Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.
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胁xiécoerce, threaten, flank
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