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March 24, 2026
思sī(si1)
The character 思 (sī) means 'to think' or 'to consider.' It is commonly used in contexts where one reflects on ideas, feelings, or decisions. This character conveys a sense of deep contemplation rather than just superficial thought.
Strokes9Radical心Frequency#3930DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, thinking and reflection are highly valued, especially in philosophies like Confucianism, where deep contemplation is seen as a way to cultivate virtue and wisdom.
Memory Tip
Think of the character 思 as a person deep in thought, with their head (the top part) tilted down, representing the act of pondering. The pronunciation 'sī' sounds like 'see,' which you can link to seeing the many possibilities in your thoughts.
Meanings of 思
sī(si1)
1to think
2to consider
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 思
思Simplified
9Strokes
心Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3930Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5
Podcast: 思
Podcast: 思
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AI Study Notes for 思
Quick Contrast
想 (xiǎng) vs 思 (sī): Use 思 when emphasizing deep contemplation, while 想 is more about general thinking or considering.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of the character 思 as a person deep in thought, with their head (the top part) tilted down, representing the act of pondering. The pronunciation 'sī' sounds like 'see,' which you can link to seeing the many possibilities in your thoughts.
Usage Notes
思 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be aware that it can convey a deeper, more serious consideration. Common collocations include 思考 (sīkǎo, to think deeply) and 思念 (sīniàn, to miss someone). A common mistake is to confuse it with simpler terms for 'think' in casual conversation.
HSK Study Tips
While 思 is not currently included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with other verbs related to mental processes like 想 (xiǎng, to think) and 认为 (rènwéi, to believe). Students should focus on its usage in compound words and phrases.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, thinking and reflection are highly valued, especially in philosophies like Confucianism, where deep contemplation is seen as a way to cultivate virtue and wisdom.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 思 with 想; for example, saying '我思一个问题' instead of '我想一个问题' (Wǒ sī yīgè wèntí). The correct usage would be '我在想一个问题' (Wǒ zài xiǎng yīgè wèntí).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 思
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Grammar Patterns of 思
思 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 3 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.
A phrase from the conference floor set my mind wandering.
2
“你什么意思啊？”我问，替利迪感到愤愤不平。
“ “ nǐ shí mó yì sī？” ā ？”， wǒ wèn ， tì lì dí gǎn dào fèn。
"What do you mean?" I asked, offended on Liddie's behalf.
3
她有点自命不凡，你明白我的意思吧？
tā yǒu diǎn zì mìng bù fán， ， nǐ míng bái wǒ de yì sī？
She was a bit stuck up, know what I mean?
4
事业上的发展可能会引发你很多的思考。
shì yè shàng de fā zhǎn kě néng huì yǐn fā nǐ hěn duō de sī kǎo。
Developments in your career may give you food for thought.
5
你不必思考，跟着你的直觉走。
nǐ bù bì sī kǎo， ， gēn zháo nǐ de zhí jué。
You won't have to think, just follow your nose.
6
她的行动和思想变得扭曲了，她的态度也是。
tā de háng dòng hé sī xiǎng biàn dé niǔ qū le， ， tā de tài dù yě。
Her actions and thoughts became distorted. So did her behavior.
7
戴维斯先生的这番话值得大家停下来思考一下。
dài wéi sī xiān shēng de zhè fān huà zhí dé dà jiā tíng xià lái sī kǎo yī xià。
It is worth pausing to consider these statements from Mr Davies.
8
这篇修正主义的论文更加偏离了马克思主义的主张。
zhè piān xiū zhèng zhǔ yì de lùn wén gēng jiā piān lí le mǎ kè sī zhǔ yì de zhǔ zhāng。
This revisionist thesis departs even further from Marxist assertions.
9
雷切尔从沙发上猛地往前一欠身子。——“你的意思是你已经抓到了皮特？”
léi qiē ěr cóng shā fā shàng měng dì wǎng qián yī qiàn shēn zǐ。——“ 。——“ nǐ de yì sī shì nǐ yǐ jīng zhuā dào le pí？”
Rachel started forward on the sofa. — "You mean you've arrested Pete?"
10
他为某些思想较守旧的官员所憎恶。
tā wéi mǒu xiē sī xiǎng jiào shǒu jiù de guān yuán suǒ zēng è。
He is loathed by some of the more traditionally minded officers.
Cultural Notes for 思
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, thinking and reflection are highly valued, especially in philosophies like Confucianism, where deep contemplation is seen as a way to cultivate virtue and wisdom.
Word Family of 思
Compounds23
崽zai3child, servant; a diminutive
腮sai1jaw; gills
锶si1strontium
鳃sai1fish gills
偲
勰xie2peaceful, harmonious
揌
缌si1fine linen
罳
葸xi3afraid, bashful, insecure
飔
媤
愢
慮lü4anxious, concerned, worried
楒
毸
禗
緦
諰
鍶
颸
騦
鰓sai1fish gills
Words Containing This Character20
意思yìsiidea
思想sīxiǎngthought
不好意思bùhǎoyìsito feel embarrassed
有意思yǒuyìsiinteresting
思考sīkǎoto reflect on
思sīto think
思维sīwéithinking思維
不可思议bùkěsīyìunfathomable不可思議
思路sīlùthinking
心思xīnsimind
毛泽东思想Maoism毛澤東思想
思念sīniànto think of
马克思主义Marxism馬克思主義
反思fǎnsīto review
马克思Marx (name)馬克思
思索sīsuǒto ponder
没意思méiyìsiboring沒意思
构思gòusīto design構思
思绪mood思緒
沉思chénsīto ponder
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 崽 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 思
思 (sī) implies a deeper level of contemplation, while 想 (xiǎng) usually refers to thinking in a more casual or immediate sense.
Yes, but it is more commonly found in formal writing or discussions where deeper thought is emphasized.
You can say '我在思考这个问题' (Wǒ zài sīkǎo zhège wèntí), meaning 'I am thinking about this problem.'
