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March 24, 2026
芝士()zhīshì(zhi1shi4)
芝士 (zhī shì) is a loanword from English, meaning 'cheese.' It is commonly used in food contexts, especially when referring to Western-style dishes that contain cheese, such as pizzas or pastas. In contemporary Chinese cuisine,芝士 represents a fusion of Western and Chinese culinary practices.
Frequency#7603DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
芝士 is part of the growing trend of Western foods becoming popular in China, especially among younger generations. This reflects the globalization of food culture and the blending of culinary traditions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant piece of cheese (芝士) sitting on a green grass hill (芝, which means 'grass'). The cheese is so big that it becomes the 'star' (士) of the picnic, attracting everyone. This visual connects the sound 'zhi' with the shape of grass and 'shi' with a star.
Meanings of 芝士
zhīshì(zhi1shi4)
1cheese (loanword)
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About 芝士
芝士Simplified
Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 芝士
Podcast: 芝士
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AI Study Notes for 芝士
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a giant piece of cheese (芝士) sitting on a green grass hill (芝, which means 'grass'). The cheese is so big that it becomes the 'star' (士) of the picnic, attracting everyone. This visual connects the sound 'zhi' with the shape of grass and 'shi' with a star.
Usage Notes
芝士 is used informally and primarily in contexts related to food. A common mistake is to use it in more formal contexts where the standard term for cheese (奶酪, nǎi lào) might be more appropriate. Be mindful of mixing it with other food words; for instance, '芝士汉堡' (cheese burger) is correct, but '汉堡芝士' is not commonly used.
HSK Study Tips
芝士 (HSK level not specified) is not a vocabulary word in the official HSK lists, but it provides a connection to HSK vocabulary related to food and dining. Students should focus on its pronunciation and the contexts in which it is commonly used, especially in restaurants or international settings.
Cultural Note
芝士 is part of the growing trend of Western foods becoming popular in China, especially among younger generations. This reflects the globalization of food culture and the blending of culinary traditions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 芝士 with 奶酪, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我想要奶酪披萨' (I want cheese pizza) can be corrected to '我想要芝士披萨.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 芝士
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芝士 is part of the growing trend of Western foods becoming popular in China, especially among younger generations. This reflects the globalization of food culture and the blending of culinary traditions.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, cheese is often a staple food item, whereas in Chinese culture, it is relatively new and more associated with Western cuisine, often viewed as a luxury or indulgent ingredient.
Frequently Asked Questions about 芝士
Popular dishes that include 芝士 (zhī shì) are pizza, pasta, and various types of sandwiches. In Chinese cuisine, you may also find cheese incorporated into dishes like cheese-stuffed buns or hot pots. The combination of cheese with traditional flavors has gained popularity in recent years.
芝士 (zhī shì) is considered an informal term, primarily used in casual conversation and food-related contexts. It's widely accepted in both spoken and written Chinese, especially among younger generations who are familiar with Western cuisine.
You can use 芝士 (zhī shì) in sentences related to food, such as '我喜欢吃芝士披萨' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī zhī shì pīsà), which means 'I like to eat cheese pizza.' This shows how the term fits naturally into discussions about meals and preferences.
芝士 (zhī shì) is a loanword in Chinese that means 'cheese'. It is commonly used in contexts related to food, especially in Western cuisine. The term has been adopted into colloquial language and is widely understood among Chinese speakers.
Yes, 芝士 generally refers to cheese in a broad sense, especially in Western culinary contexts.
It's better to use 奶酪 (nǎi lào) in formal contexts, as 芝士 is more casual and trendy.
The correct pronunciation is 'zhī shì', with the first syllable pronounced with a high level tone and the second syllable pronounced with a falling tone.
