Meanings of 仕
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About 仕
Podcast: 仕
Podcast: 仕
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AI Study Notes for 仕
官 (guān) - use 仕 (shì) to emphasize duty and service in an official context, while 官 (guān) refers more broadly to an official or government position without the same connotation of service.
Learners often confuse 仕 with similar characters like 职 (zhí, meaning 'position' or 'job') or 官 (guān, meaning 'official' or 'government'). It is commonly used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Pay attention to the tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.
While 仕 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is beneficial for learners at HSK Level 4 to connect it to other words related to professions and government roles, like 官 (guān) and 职业 (zhíyè, meaning 'profession'). Focus on pronunciation and recognizing its usage in formal texts.
Learners often mistakenly use 仕 when referring to jobs in a casual setting, like saying '我在这家公司仕' (Wǒ zài zhè jiā gōngsī shì, meaning 'I serve at this company'), which should be '我在这家公司工作' (Wǒ zài zhè jiā gōngsī gōngzuò).
Pronunciation of 仕
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Etymology of 仕
Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 士 represents the sound.
person
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 仕
Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 士 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half亻 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half士 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayperson
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 仕? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 仕
Identify the Components
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How to say official; to serve in the government in Chinese
“official; to serve in the government” in Chinese is仕
The character 仕 (shì) refers to an official or someone who serves in a government capacity. It carries connotations of duty and service, often in a formal context, such as in bureaucratic or administrative roles. Additionally, in the context of Chinese chess, it represents two important pieces that guard the 'general' or 'king'.
When to use 仕
Learners often confuse 仕 with similar characters like 职 (zhí, meaning 'position' or 'job') or 官 (guān, meaning 'official' or 'government'). It is commonly used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Pay attention to the tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.
仕 or something close to it
官 (guān) - use 仕 (shì) to emphasize duty and service in an official context, while 官 (guān) refers more broadly to an official or government position without the same connotation of service.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 仕 when referring to jobs in a casual setting, like saying '我在这家公司仕' (Wǒ zài zhè jiā gōngsī shì, meaning 'I serve at this company'), which should be '我在这家公司工作' (Wǒ zài zhè jiā gōngsī gōngzuò).
Write 仕
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Practice writing 仕 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 仕
仕 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
学而优则____.
A good scholar will make an official.
Example Sentences for 仕 (1)
Reorder the Sentence
A good scholar will make an official.
Word Family of 仕
Compound Meaning
What does 仕 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 仕
While both refer to officials, 仕 emphasizes the act of serving in a government role, whereas 官 specifically denotes the position of an official.
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