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荀子

Mandarin · pinyin Xún zǐ

Xunzi, (c. 310-237 BC), Confucian philosopher
the Xunzi, a collection of philosophical writings attributed to Xunzi

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Characters in this entry

荀: xún · surname; ancient state; plant
子: zǐ · offspring, child; fruit, seed of; first earthly branch

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

2–3 · Xun2 zi3

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 2 senses · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

seon1 zi2

Cantonese word readings for 荀子. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

name

Xunzi (Confucian philosopher, c. 310 – c. 235 BC, or c. 314 – c. 217 B.C.)
Xunzi (ancient Chinese collection of philosophical writings attributed to said philosopher)

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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