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蓍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蓍shīyarrow, milfoil; a plant used in divinationg, 13 strokes, radical 艹, rank #61792, Very Hard
蓍shīyarrow (Achillea millefolium)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 艹, rank #61792, Very Hard
shī(shi1) T1
  1. 1yarrow, milfoil; a plant used in divination
  2. 2yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蓍shī(shi1)

The character 蓍 (shī) refers to yarrow, a perennial herb known for its feathery leaves and clusters of small flowers. In traditional Chinese culture, yarrow has been used in divination practices, particularly in the I Ching, where it symbolizes change and fortune-telling.

Strokes13Radical艹Frequency#61792DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, yarrow is not only used for divination but is also associated with various traditional health practices and rituals. It has historical significance in literature and is often mentioned in ancient texts related to fortune-telling.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wise old sage using yarrow leaves to tell fortunes. The character 蓍 looks like a plant with its leafy top (艹) and the sturdy stem beneath (之). You can remember the pronunciation 'shī' by thinking of a sage whispering secrets from yarrow.

Meanings of 蓍

shī(shi1)
1yarrow, milfoil; a plant used in divination
2yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蓍

蓍Simplified
13Strokes
艹Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蓍

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Podcast: 蓍

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AI Study Notes for 蓍

Usage Notes

When discussing traditional Chinese medicine or divination, 蓍 is often used in a formal context. A common mistake is confusing it with similar plants like 草 (cǎo, grass), which is more general. Always remember that 蓍 specifically refers to yarrow.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蓍 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to other plants and herbs you might learn at HSK Level 3 or 4. Focus on the botanical terminology and its cultural significance to enhance understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蓍 with other plant characters due to similar radicals. For example, using 蓍 incorrectly in a sentence about general herbs instead of specifically about yarrow can lead to misunderstandings. Always clarify the context to avoid such errors.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蓍

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Etymology of 蓍

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

plant

Semantic (meaning)艹
+
Phonetic (sound)耆
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蓍

  1. 1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half耆 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayplant
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 蓍? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 蓍?

Decomposition of 蓍

IDS Structure⿱艹耆
蓍Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
耆qi2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蓍?

How to say yarrow, milfoil; a plant used in divination in Chinese

“yarrow, milfoil; a plant used in divination” in Chinese is蓍shī

The character 蓍 (shī) refers to yarrow, a perennial herb known for its feathery leaves and clusters of small flowers. In traditional Chinese culture, yarrow has been used in divination practices, particularly in the I Ching, where it symbolizes change and fortune-telling.

When to use 蓍

When discussing traditional Chinese medicine or divination, 蓍 is often used in a formal context. A common mistake is confusing it with similar plants like 草 (cǎo, grass), which is more general. Always remember that 蓍 specifically refers to yarrow.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蓍 with other plant characters due to similar radicals. For example, using 蓍 incorrectly in a sentence about general herbs instead of specifically about yarrow can lead to misunderstandings. Always clarify the context to avoid such errors.

Write 蓍

蓍

Practice writing 蓍 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 蓍

Words Containing This Character1
蓍shīyarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 蓍 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蓍

Yarrow is significant in Chinese culture as it is used in divination and traditional medicine, symbolizing change and fortune.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蓍?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.