Meanings of 恃
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About 恃
Podcast: 恃
Podcast: 恃
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AI Study Notes for 恃
Learners often confuse 恃 with other similar-sounding characters, such as 视 (shì, to see). It's important to use 恃 in contexts involving trust or reliance, and be cautious with the tone as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings. Common collocations include 恃才傲物 (shì cái ào wù), meaning to rely on one's talent and look down on others.
While 恃 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it can be related to other verbs expressing reliance or trust. Students should focus on the context in which it is used and practice distinguishing it from similar characters in pronunciation and meaning.
Learners often misinterpret 恃 as merely meaning 'mother,' overlooking its broader implications of reliance and presumption. For example, saying '她是我妈妈，恃' instead of '她是我妈妈' is incorrect; the sentence should not include 恃 in this context.
Pronunciation of 恃
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Etymology of 恃
Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 寺 represents the sound.
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Case file: 恃
Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 寺 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half忄 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half寺 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayheart
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 恃? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
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Decomposition of 恃
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How to say to trust, to rely on; to presume in Chinese
“to trust, to rely on; to presume” in Chinese is恃
The character 恃 (shì) means to trust or rely on someone or something. It often carries a nuance of presumption or over-reliance, suggesting a sense of dependence that may not be warranted. This term can also refer formally to 'mother' in certain contexts, highlighting its layered meanings in different usages.
When to use 恃
Learners often confuse 恃 with other similar-sounding characters, such as 视 (shì, to see). It's important to use 恃 in contexts involving trust or reliance, and be cautious with the tone as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings. Common collocations include 恃才傲物 (shì cái ào wù), meaning to rely on one's talent and look down on others.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misinterpret 恃 as merely meaning 'mother,' overlooking its broader implications of reliance and presumption. For example, saying '她是我妈妈，恃' instead of '她是我妈妈' is incorrect; the sentence should not include 恃 in this context.
Write 恃
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Practice writing 恃 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 恃
恃 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 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
他和他爸爸一样都是个____强凌弱的莽夫。
He is a hothead and a bully just like his dad.
Example Sentences for 恃 (2)
Word Family of 恃
Compound Meaning
What does 恃强凌弱 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 恃
Common phrases include 恃才傲物, which describes someone who relies too much on their abilities.
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