unknown, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #33511, Very Hard
shì(shi4) T4
1old variant of 柿[shì]
2persimmon
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
柿(柹)shì(shi4)
The character 柿 (shì) refers to the persimmon, a sweet and flavorful fruit commonly found in East Asia. It is often used in both culinary contexts, such as in desserts or salads, and in traditional medicine. While it can also denote an older variant of the same character, its primary association is with the fruit itself.
Strokes9Radical木Frequency#33511DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, persimmons symbolize good luck and are often eaten during festivals such as the Mid-Autumn Festival. They are also used in various traditional dishes and desserts, reflecting their cultural significance.
Memory Tip
Visualize a bright orange persimmon hanging from a branch. The character 柿 is made of the radical for tree (木) on the left, suggesting its association with nature, and the component for 'to eat' (食) on the right, hinting at its delicious taste. Remember 'shì' by imagining you are 'sipping' the sweet juice of a persimmon.
Meanings of 柿
shì(shi4)
1persimmon
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 柿
柿Simplified
柹Traditional
9Strokes
木Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#33511Frequency Rank
Podcast: 柿
Podcast: 柿
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 柿
Memory Mnemonic
Visualize a bright orange persimmon hanging from a branch. The character 柿 is made of the radical for tree (木) on the left, suggesting its association with nature, and the component for 'to eat' (食) on the right, hinting at its delicious taste. Remember 'shì' by imagining you are 'sipping' the sweet juice of a persimmon.
Usage Notes
Watch out for the pronunciation, as it can be confused with similar-sounding words. This character is informal and typically used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include '柿子' (shìzi), which means 'persimmon fruit'.
HSK Study Tips
Although not specifically listed in HSK levels, it can be connected to HSK 2 vocabulary focusing on food and fruits. Students should practice using it in sentences related to eating and cooking to reinforce its meaning.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, persimmons symbolize good luck and are often eaten during festivals such as the Mid-Autumn Festival. They are also used in various traditional dishes and desserts, reflecting their cultural significance.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 柿 with similar characters like 市 (shì, city) due to their pronunciation. Always remember that 柿 refers to the fruit, while 市 is related to urban settings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 柿
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 柿 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 柿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 柿
柿 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他的冰箱里除了3个非常干瘪的西红____外已经空空如也。
His fridge was bare apart from three very withered tomatoes.
Common Confusions with 柿
柿vs市
shì
Similar shape but different meaning.
柿vs是
shì
Same pinyin, different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "persimmon"?
or
Example Sentences for 柿 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他的冰箱里除了3个非常干瘪的西红柿外已经空空如也。
tā de bīng xiāng lǐ chú le3 3 gè fēi cháng gān biē de xī hóng shì wài yǐ jīng kōng kōng rú。
His fridge was bare apart from three very withered tomatoes.
2
拿3个硬西红柿切碎。
ná3 3 gè yìng xī hóng shì qiē。
Chop up three firm tomatoes.
3
买些莴苣和西红柿,我好做色拉.
mǎi xiē wō jù hé xī hóng shì, , wǒ hǎo zuò sè.
Get some lettuce and tomatoes so I can make a salad.
I dare affirm that the tomato will be very expensive.
10
绿柿子非常涩.
lǜ shì zǐ fēi cháng sè.
Green persimmons are strongly astringent.
Cultural Notes for 柿
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, persimmons symbolize good luck and are often eaten during festivals such as the Mid-Autumn Festival. They are also used in various traditional dishes and desserts, reflecting their cultural significance.
Word Family of 柿
Words Containing This Character5
西红柿xīhóngshìtomato西紅柿
柿子shìzipersimmon
柿shìold variant of 柿[shì]柹
柿子椒bell pepper
柿饼dried persimmon柿餅
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 西红柿 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 柿
Yes, 柿 (persimmons) can be eaten fresh, dried, or used in cooking and baking. They are often featured in desserts, salads, and even savory dishes due to their unique flavor.
The character 柿 has old variants that were used in historical texts but are less common today. These variants convey the same meaning of 'persimmon' but might appear in classical literature or older writings.
You can use the character 柿 in sentences to refer to persimmons, such as '我喜欢吃柿子' which means 'I like to eat persimmons.' It can also be used in idiomatic expressions related to the fruit.
柿 (shì) refers to the fruit 'persimmon' in Chinese. It is a sweet and flavorful fruit, often enjoyed fresh or dried. This character can also represent its old variants, indicating its historical usage.
柿 is the standard character for persimmon, while its variants may appear in older texts or specific dialects.
You can say '我喜欢吃柿子' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī shìzi), meaning 'I like to eat persimmons'.
Yes, there are a few different varieties of persimmons in China, such as the Fuyu and Shizi, each with unique flavors and textures.
