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March 24, 2026
饰(飾)shì(shi4)
The character 饰 (shì) primarily means 'to decorate' or 'to adorn,' often used in contexts involving embellishments in art, fashion, or home decor. It can also imply concealing a fault or playing a role, as in theatrical performances, highlighting its dual nature of both beautification and disguise.
Strokes8Radical饣Frequency#10082DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, decoration plays a significant role during festivals and celebrations, where homes are adorned with red and gold items symbolizing good fortune, making 饰 a relevant term in the context of cultural aesthetics.
Memory Tip
Think of 饰 as a shiny ornament (the radical '衣' resembles clothing or decoration) that you wear to enhance your appearance. Imagine putting on a beautiful dress (饰) that hides any flaws and makes you feel like a star on stage.
Meanings of 饰
shì(shi4)
1decoration
2ornament
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 饰
饰Simplified
飾Traditional
8Strokes
饣Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#10082Frequency Rank
Podcast: 饰
Podcast: 饰
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AI Study Notes for 饰
Quick Contrast
装 (zhuāng) - use 饰 (shì) when emphasizing decoration or adornment, while 装 (zhuāng) leans more towards the act of dressing up or pretending.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 饰 with other similar-sounding verbs. It is more commonly used in formal contexts when discussing design or performance. Common collocations include 饰品 (shìpǐn - decorative items) and 饰演 (shìyǎn - to perform a role).
HSK Study Tips
While 饰 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to related words like 装饰 (zhuāngshì - decoration) and 表演 (biǎoyǎn - performance), which are found in lower levels. Focus on how 饰 is used in different contexts, including art and theater.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 饰 with similar characters like 装. For example, saying '我喜欢装这个房间' (Wǒ xǐhuān zhuāng zhège fángjiān) instead of '我喜欢饰这个房间' is incorrect, as 装 means 'to install' rather than 'to decorate.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 饰
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2The sound half饣 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaycloth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 饰? 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 饰?
Decomposition of 饰
IDS Structure⿰饣⿱？巾
饰Full Character
=
饣shi2
left
巾jin1
top
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 饰?
How to say decoration in Chinese
“decoration” in Chinese is饰shì
The character 饰 (shì) primarily means 'to decorate' or 'to adorn,' often used in contexts involving embellishments in art, fashion, or home decor. It can also imply concealing a fault or playing a role, as in theatrical performances, highlighting its dual nature of both beautification and disguise.
When to use 饰
Be careful not to confuse 饰 with other similar-sounding verbs. It is more commonly used in formal contexts when discussing design or performance. Common collocations include 饰品 (shìpǐn - decorative items) and 饰演 (shìyǎn - to perform a role).
饰 or something close to it
装 (zhuāng) - use 饰 (shì) when emphasizing decoration or adornment, while 装 (zhuāng) leans more towards the act of dressing up or pretending.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 饰 with similar characters like 装. For example, saying '我喜欢装这个房间' (Wǒ xǐhuān zhuāng zhège fángjiān) instead of '我喜欢饰这个房间' is incorrect, as 装 means 'to install' rather than 'to decorate.'
Write 饰
饰
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Practice writing 饰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 饰
饰 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 9 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
无论你如何粉____，银行就是为了放贷而生的。
However you dress it up, a bank only exists to lend money.
Common Confusions with 饰
饰vs仕
shì
Same pronunciation but different meaning and context.
饰vs识
shí
Similar pronunciation but different meaning and usage.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "decoration"?
or
Example Sentences for 饰 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
无论你如何粉饰，银行就是为了放贷而生的。
wú lùn nǐ rú hé fěn shì， ， yín háng jiù shì wéi le fàng dài ér shēng。
However you dress it up, a bank only exists to lend money.
2
墙上唯一的装饰是几支蜡烛和一面镜子。
qiáng shàng wéi yī de zhuāng shì shì jī zhī là zhú hé yī miàn jìng zǐ。
The only wall decorations are candles and a single mirror.
3
精心搭配的室内装饰似乎已不再受欢迎了。
jīng xīn dā pèi de shì nèi zhuāng shì sì hū yǐ bù zài shòu huān yíng le。
Interior decoration by careful coordination seems to have had its day.
