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March 24, 2026
寺sì(si4)
The character 寺 (sì) refers primarily to a temple, particularly a Buddhist temple or monastery. It can also denote a mosque or an old government office. This word is commonly used in religious contexts and carries a sense of spirituality and reverence.
Strokes6Radical寸Frequency#8920DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In China, temples like 寺 are integral to cultural heritage, often serving as sites for festivals, rituals, and community gatherings. They reflect the deep-rooted influence of Buddhism in Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a serene scene of a Buddhist temple (寺) nestled in the mountains, where monks meditate in silence. The 'si' sound can be linked to 'see' the beauty of this temple. The character itself resembles a roof (the top part) sheltering the sacred space below.
Meanings of 寺
sì(si4)
1Buddhist temple
2mosque
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 寺
寺Simplified
6Strokes
寸Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#8920Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateBCT✓
Podcast: 寺
Podcast: 寺
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AI Study Notes for 寺
Quick Contrast
庙 (miào) - use 寺 (sì) when referring specifically to a Buddhist temple, while 庙 (miào) is more general and can refer to any kind of temple, including those for folk beliefs.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a serene scene of a Buddhist temple (寺) nestled in the mountains, where monks meditate in silence. The 'si' sound can be linked to 'see' the beauty of this temple. The character itself resembles a roof (the top part) sheltering the sacred space below.
Usage Notes
Be mindful that 寺 is typically used in formal contexts relating to temples and places of worship. Common collocations include 寺庙 (sìmiào - temple) and 佛教寺 (fójiào sì - Buddhist temple). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 寺 is not included in HSK levels, it connects to Level 3 vocabulary related to places, such as 学校 (xuéxiào - school) and 商店 (shāngdiàn - store). Focus on recognizing its usage in religious contexts and in compound words.
Cultural Note
In China, temples like 寺 are integral to cultural heritage, often serving as sites for festivals, rituals, and community gatherings. They reflect the deep-rooted influence of Buddhism in Chinese society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 寺 with similar characters, leading to mistakes like using it in non-religious contexts, such as calling a school (学校) a temple. Always remember that 寺 is specifically for temples and places of worship.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 寺
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Phonosemantic compound. 寸 represents the meaning and 止 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning of "to grasp". The current meaning "temple" is a phonetic loan. The original meaning is now represented by the character 持 (to hold).
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Grammar Patterns of 寺
寺 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.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
他们呈扇形散开，在____庙周围仔细搜寻。
They fanned out and carefully combed the temple grounds.
Example Sentences for 寺 (9)
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1
他们呈扇形散开，在寺庙周围仔细搜寻。
tā mén chéng shàn xíng sàn kāi， ， zài sì miào zhōu wéi zī xì sōu。
They fanned out and carefully combed the temple grounds.
2
他们不仅修缮了老寺庙,还修建了许多新寺庙.
tā mén bù jǐn xiū shàn le lǎo sì miào, , huán xiū jiàn le xǔ duō xīn sì.
They built new temples and repaired and improved old ones.
3
她抬头清楚地看到了被聚光灯照得通明的寺庙。
tā tái tóu qīng chǔ dì kàn dào le bèi jù guāng dēng zhào dé tōng míng de sì miào。
She caught a clear view upwards of the spotlit temple.
4
寺庙的墙壁上刻着象形文字.
sì miào de qiáng bì shàng kè zháo xiàng xíng wén zì.
Hieroglyphics are carved into the walls of the temple.
5
寺庙的墙壁上刻着象形文字。
sì miào de qiáng bì shàng kè zháo xiàng xíng wén zì。
Hieroglyphs are carved into the walls of the temple.
6
华庭寺有棵松子鳞,是明朝的,五百多年了,一开花,能开一千多朵. ”
huá tíng sì yǒu kē sōng zǐ lín, , shì míng zhāo, de , wǔ bǎi duō, nián le ,, yī kāi huā , néng kāi.”
The Pine Cone: Scale in Huating Temple is more than five hundred years old.
7
寺庙内的诵经声停了。
sì miào nèi de sòng jīng shēng tíng le。
The chanting inside the temple stopped.
8
犹太人把他赶出了寺庙.
yóu tài rén bǎ tā gǎn chū le sì miào.
The Jews cast him out of the temple.
9
知名 的有瑞云禅寺 、 水母庙 、 咏归亭 、 碧霞祠等.
zhī míng de yǒu ruì yún chán、 sì 、 shuǐ、 mǔ miào 、、 yǒng guī tíng 、.
There are well - known Ruiyun Temple, jellyfish Temple, Yong - owned kiosks, as Ha Temple.
Cultural Notes for 寺
🏮Cultural insight
In China, temples like 寺 are integral to cultural heritage, often serving as sites for festivals, rituals, and community gatherings. They reflect the deep-rooted influence of Buddhism in Chinese society.
Word Family of 寺
Compounds19
等deng3class
特te4special
持chi2to hold
待dai1to stay
诗Shi1abbr. for Shijing 詩經
侍shi4to serve, to attend upon; servant, attendant; samurai
峙zhi4to pile, to stack; to stand tall
痔zhi4piles, hemorrhoids
恃shi4to trust, to rely on; to presume
時shi2time, season; period, era, age
庤
畤
跱
邿
鼭
歭
洔
秲
詩shi1poetry; poem, verse, ode
Words Containing This Character20
寺sìmosque
寺庙sìmiàotemple寺廟
清真寺qīngzhēnsìmosque
寺院cloister
少林寺shàolínsìShaolin Temple, Buddhist monastery famous for its kung fu monks
佛寺Buddhist temple
大昭寺Jokhang, main Buddhist temple in Lhasa, a sacred place of Tibetan Buddhism
塔尔寺Kumbum (Chinese Ta'er), monastery in Qinhai, formerly Amdo province of Tibet塔爾寺
白马寺the Baima or White Horse Temple in Luoyang, one of the earliest Buddhist temples in China白馬寺
潭柘寺Tanzhe Temple
金山寺Jinshan Temple, where Fahai lives (from Madam White Snake)
法源寺Fayuan or Source of the Law temple in Beijing
金阁寺Kinkakuji or Golden pavilion in northwest Kyōto 京都, Japan金閣寺
白塔寺Baita temple in Lanzhou 蘭州|兰州[Lánzhōu]
灵谷寺Linggu temple (Nanjing)靈谷寺
红寺堡Hongsibao district of Wuzhong city 吳忠市|吴忠市[Wúzhōngshì], Ningxia紅寺堡
甘丹寺Ganden monastery, Tibetan: dGa' ldan rNam rgyal gling, Dagzê county 達孜縣|达孜县[Dázīxiàn], Lhasa, Tibet
太仆寺旗Taibus banner in Xilin Gol league 錫林郭勒盟|锡林郭勒盟[Xīlínguōlèméng], Inner Mongolia太僕寺旗
小昭寺Ramoche Temple, Lhasa
夹山寺Jiashan Temple, Buddhist temple in Shimen 石门, Changde 常德, Hunan, the purported final home and burial place of late Ming peasant rebel leader Li Zicheng 李自成夾山寺
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 等 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 寺
It is pronounced as 'sì', with a falling tone.
While it primarily refers to Buddhist temples, it can also denote mosques.
A common phrase is 寺庙 (sìmiào), which means temple.
