施 (shī) — (bound form) to bestow; to give; (bound form) to apply; to exert; surname Shi
Definition
施 is a bound form meaning 'to bestow' (e.g. 施加, 施压) or 'to apply / carry out' (e.g. 实施, 施行). In modern Chinese it almost never stands alone — it always appears as part of a two-character word. Also used as the surname Shi.
bound form
to bestowto giveto applyto exertsurname Shi
Easily confused
- 旋xuánlook-aliketo spin, to revolve, to whirl
- 嘘shīsound-aliketo shush; to hiss; to boo
- 旌jīnglook-alikebanner, flag (in literary compounds)
- 师shīsound-alike(bound form) teacher, master; person skilled in a profession (e.g., 律师, 工程师)
- 族zúlook-alike(suffix) ethnic group, race, or race; also used for clans and lineages
- 尸shīsound-alikecorpse, dead body (bound form, used in compounds)
Examples
- 。Lǎo shī bù yīng gěi xué shēng shī jiā tài duō yā lì.Teachers should not put too much pressure on students.
- 。Zhè ge jì huà cóng míng nián kāi shǐ shí shī.This plan will be implemented starting next year.
- 施？Nín xìng shī ma?Is your surname Shi?
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
㫃㫃㫃
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě施shī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
施 pairs 㫃, the part connected to its meaning, with 也, the part giving its sound.
Appears in
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