麾 (huī) - A commander's banner or flag in ancient China & by extension, military command or headquarters.

麾Tone 1

huī ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

麾 · huī

A commander's banner or flag in ancient China;

by extension, military command or headquarters.

A commander's banner or flag in ancient Chinaby extension, military command or headquarters.

Usage highlights

Under one's commandWaving the command bannerCommander's bannerMilitary headquartersFollow the command flagCommander's staff

Synonyms

  • 旗— flag, banner (general term)
  • 旌— banner, flag (ceremonial)
  • 帅旗— commander's flag

Antonyms

  • 卒— soldier, private (subordinate rather than commander)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The general waved his banner to signal the attack (麾下).
  • He served directly under the commander's banner (在麾下效力).
  • The troops gathered under the commander's flag (麾下部队).
  • The emperor personally took command of the army (亲麾六军).

Collocations

  • Under one's command(麾下)
  • Waving the command banner(麾军)
  • Commander's banner(麾旗)
  • Military headquarters(麾帐)
  • Follow the command flag(从麾)
  • Commander's staff(麾节)

Idioms

  • Follow the commander's banner(望麾而进)
  • Under the commander's flag(麾下之臣)
  • Waving the banner to advance(麾军前进)
  • Respond to the commander's signal(应麾而动)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese warfare, the 麾 was a distinctive banner used by commanders to direct troops and signal movements.
  • The character appears frequently in classical military texts and historical records describing battlefield command.
  • Serving 'under someone's 麾' (麾下) became an idiom meaning to be under someone's command or leadership.

FAQ