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豉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
豉chǐfermented beansx, 11 strokes, radical 豆
豉chǐsalted fermented beansunknown, 11 strokes, radical 豆
豉shìfermented beansx, 11 strokes, radical 豆
豉shìsalted fermented beansunknown, 11 strokes, radical 豆
shì(shi4)shi
primary
T4
  1. 1fermented beans
  2. 2salted fermented beans
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March 24, 2026

豉shì(shi4)

The character 豉 (shì) refers to fermented soybeans, often used in Chinese cuisine as a flavor enhancer or condiment. It can denote both the fermented beans themselves and the products made from them, such as fermented bean paste, which is a common ingredient in various dishes.

Strokes11Radical豆
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese cooking, fermented soybeans are a staple ingredient, especially in the preparation of dishes like doubanjiang (豆瓣酱), a spicy bean paste essential in Sichuan cuisine. This highlights the importance of fermentation in enhancing flavors in Chinese culinary practices.

Memory tip

Imagine a pair of soybeans (豆) wearing a chef's hat, as they have undergone a 'fermentation' (the radical 豕 suggests something related to food preparation). Picture them being salty and flavorful, ready to enhance a delicious dish, which will help you remember both the meaning and the pronunciation 'shì'.

Meanings of 豉

shì(shi4)
primary
1fermented beans
2salted fermented beans
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 豉

豉Simplified
11Strokes
豆Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 豉

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Podcast: 豉

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AI Study Notes for 豉

Usage Notes

豉 is often used in culinary contexts, particularly in southern Chinese cuisines. Be careful not to confuse it with similar characters that relate to other fermented products. The tone can be tricky; make sure to pronounce it with a falling tone (shì) to avoid confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 豉 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to related food terms at HSK Level 1 and 2, such as 豆 (dòu, bean) and 酱 (jiàng, sauce). Focus on practicing its pronunciation and usage in cooking contexts to build a relevant vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 豉 with similar characters like 豆 (dòu, bean), leading to incorrect interpretations. Remember that 豉 specifically refers to the fermented product, while 豆 refers to the raw bean.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 豉

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Etymology of 豉

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

beans

Semantic (meaning)豆
+
Phonetic (sound)支
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

豉 = 豆 + 支. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 豉

IDS Structure⿰豆支
豉Full character
=
豆dou4
left
支Zhi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 豉?

How to say fermented beans in Chinese

“fermented beans” in Chinese is豉chǐ

The character 豉 (shì) refers to fermented soybeans, often used in Chinese cuisine as a flavor enhancer or condiment. It can denote both the fermented beans themselves and the products made from them, such as fermented bean paste, which is a common ingredient in various dishes.

When to use 豉

豉 is often used in culinary contexts, particularly in southern Chinese cuisines. Be careful not to confuse it with similar characters that relate to other fermented products. The tone can be tricky; make sure to pronounce it with a falling tone (shì) to avoid confusion with other words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 豉 with similar characters like 豆 (dòu, bean), leading to incorrect interpretations. Remember that 豉 specifically refers to the fermented product, while 豆 refers to the raw bean.

Write 豉

豉

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

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Word Family of 豉

Words containing this character3
豆豉black bean
豉shìsalted fermented beans
蚝豉dried oyster meat蠔豉
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 豉

What does 豆豉 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 豉

豉 is used in various dishes, especially in sauces and pastes like doubanjiang, which is essential in many stir-fries.

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