麒 (qí) - Qilin — a mythical hooved chimerical creature in & symbolizes auspiciousness, prosperity, and serenity

麒Tone 2

qí ｜ 19 strokes ｜ radical:

七器

麒 · qí

Qilin — a mythical hooved chimerical creature in Chinese mythology, sometimes called the 'Chinese unicorn';

symbolizes auspiciousness, prosperity, and serenity;

also appears in male given names.

Qilin — a mythical hooved chimerical creature insymbolizes auspiciousness, prosperity, and serenityalso appears in male given names.

Usage highlights

Qilin mythical beastAuspicious qilinJade qilinQilin appearsQilin talentQilin child

Synonyms

  • 麟— The female qilin; often used interchangeably with 麒 in compound words
  • 龙— Dragon; another powerful, auspicious mythical creature
  • 凤— Phoenix; an auspicious mythical bird

Antonyms

  • 妖— Monster/demon; represents inauspiciousness and evil
  • 鬼— Ghost; represents death and the underworld

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The qilin is an auspicious mythical beast (麒麟).
  • He has the name Qilin (麒霖).
  • Ancient texts describe the qilin's appearance (麒麟 appearance).
  • The qilin brings good fortune (麒麟送福).

Collocations

  • Qilin mythical beast(麒麟)
  • Auspicious qilin(祥麒)
  • Jade qilin(玉麒)
  • Qilin appears(麒现)
  • Qilin talent(麒才)
  • Qilin child(麟儿)

Idioms

  • The unicorn's single horn, the phoenix's tuft — rare and precious talent(麟角凤距)
  • Unicorn horn and phoenix plumage — extremely rare and valuable(麟角凤觜)
  • The lin arrives at the courtyard — an omen of a sage's birth(麟趾呈祥)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The qilin is one of the Four Auspicious Beasts in Chinese mythology, along with the dragon, phoenix, and tortoise.
  • Its appearance is said to herald the arrival of a great sage or ruler; it famously appeared before the birth of Confucius.
  • In naming, 麒 conveys wishes for the child to be noble, talented, and blessed with good fortune.

FAQ