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轼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
轼shìcarriage crossbarg, 10 strokes, radical 车, rank #45646, Very Hard
轼shìcrossbar in carriage frontunknown, 10 strokes, radical 车, rank #45646, Very Hard
shì(shi4) T4
  1. 1carriage crossbar
  2. 2crossbar in carriage front
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

轼(軾)shì(shi4)

The character 轼 (shì) refers to a specific part of a traditional carriage, namely the crossbar found at the front of the carriage. This term is often used in historical or literary contexts when discussing ancient transportation methods or vehicle construction. It is not commonly used in contemporary language but may appear in classical texts or discussions about history.

Strokes10Radical车Frequency#45646DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In ancient China, carriages played a significant role in transportation, especially among nobility. The crossbar 轼 was essential for the stability and function of these carriages, reflecting the importance of craftsmanship in Chinese history.

Memory Tip

Imagine a grand carriage with a strong crossbar at the front, holding it together. Think of the word 'shì' as the sound of wheels rolling over cobblestones, connecting the structure of the carriage and evoking the image of strength and stability.

Meanings of 轼

shì(shi4)
1carriage crossbar
2crossbar in carriage front
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 轼

轼Simplified
軾Traditional
10Strokes
车Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 轼

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Podcast: 轼

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AI Study Notes for 轼

Usage Notes

Learners should be cautious not to confuse 轼 with similar-sounding characters. The usage of this term is quite formal and specific to historical contexts, making it rare in everyday conversation. Be mindful of its proper tone, as mispronunciation could lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 轼 is not included in the HSK levels, understanding this character can enrich your vocabulary related to historical contexts. Focus on related characters that describe vehicles or transportation, such as 车 (chē) for 'car' or 'vehicle', to build connections.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 轼 with similar characters like 识 (shì, meaning 'to know') due to their phonetic similarity. Ensure to remember the context and meaning of 轼 to avoid this mix-up.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 轼

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Etymology of 轼

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

Phonosemantic compound. 车 represents the meaning and 式 represents the sound. Simplified form of 軾.

Memory Hint

cart

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 轼

Phonosemantic compound. 车 represents the meaning and 式 represents the sound. Simplified form of 軾.

  1. 1The meaning half车 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half式 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaycart
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 轼? 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 轼?

Decomposition of 轼

IDS Structure⿰车式
轼Full Character
=
车Che1
left
式shi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 轼?

How to say carriage crossbar in Chinese

“carriage crossbar” in Chinese is轼shì

The character 轼 (shì) refers to a specific part of a traditional carriage, namely the crossbar found at the front of the carriage. This term is often used in historical or literary contexts when discussing ancient transportation methods or vehicle construction. It is not commonly used in contemporary language but may appear in classical texts or discussions about history.

When to use 轼

Learners should be cautious not to confuse 轼 with similar-sounding characters. The usage of this term is quite formal and specific to historical contexts, making it rare in everyday conversation. Be mindful of its proper tone, as mispronunciation could lead to confusion with other words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 轼 with similar characters like 识 (shì, meaning 'to know') due to their phonetic similarity. Ensure to remember the context and meaning of 轼 to avoid this mix-up.

Write 轼

轼

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 轼

Words Containing This Character2
轼shìcrossbar in carriage front軾
苏轼Su Shi (1037-1101), also known as Su Dongpo 蘇東坡|苏东坡[Sū​Dōng​pō] northern Song Dynasty writer and calligrapher蘇軾
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 轼 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 轼

It means the crossbar at the front of a carriage, primarily used in historical contexts.

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