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犀利

Mandarin · pinyin xī lì

sharp
incisive
penetrating

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Characters in this entry

犀: xī · rhinoceros; sharp, well-tempered
利: lì · gains, advantage, profit, merit

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

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Mandarin tones

1–4 · xi1 li4

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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 · 3 senses · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

sai1 lei6

Cantonese word readings for 犀利. 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.

adj

(of a blade) sharp; sharp-edged; keen
(figurative, of eyes, opinions, writing) sharp; incisive; trenchant; caustic
(chiefly Cantonese, figurative) surprisingly impressive; amazing

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

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