Meanings of 伺
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About 伺
Podcast: 伺
Podcast: 伺
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AI Study Notes for 伺
侍 (shì) - choose 伺 (cì) when emphasizing the act of watching or waiting upon, rather than the role of serving.
Common mistakes include confusing 伺 with similar-sounding words, such as 'ci' in 'ci' (次, meaning 'next'). This character tends to be more formal and is often used in written contexts rather than in casual conversation. Be careful not to use it when simply saying 'to wait' in a casual sense, as it carries a more respectful connotation.
While 伺 is not currently included in HSK levels, it connects to HSK vocabulary related to service and observation. Students should focus on its nuances in terms of formality and context, as well as its connection to other service-related terms like 服务 (fúwù, to serve).
Learners may confuse 伺 with similar characters like 视 (shì, to look or see). For example, saying '我伺电视' (wǒ cì diànshì, I watch TV) is incorrect; the correct term is '我看电视' (wǒ kàn diànshì).
Pronunciation of 伺
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Etymology of 伺
Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 司 represents the sound.
person
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 伺
Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 司 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half亻 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half司 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayperson
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 伺? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 伺?
Decomposition of 伺
Identify the Components
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How to say to wait on in Chinese
“to wait on” in Chinese is伺
The character 伺 (cì) primarily means to watch or wait upon someone or something. It is often used in contexts where one is serving, attending, or observing closely. This character can imply a sense of attentiveness or vigilance in various situations.
When to use 伺
Common mistakes include confusing 伺 with similar-sounding words, such as 'ci' in 'ci' (次, meaning 'next'). This character tends to be more formal and is often used in written contexts rather than in casual conversation. Be careful not to use it when simply saying 'to wait' in a casual sense, as it carries a more respectful connotation.
伺 or something close to it
侍 (shì) - choose 伺 (cì) when emphasizing the act of watching or waiting upon, rather than the role of serving.
What learners get wrong
Learners may confuse 伺 with similar characters like 视 (shì, to look or see). For example, saying '我伺电视' (wǒ cì diànshì, I watch TV) is incorrect; the correct term is '我看电视' (wǒ kàn diànshì).
Write 伺
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Practice writing 伺 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 伺
伺 carries 5 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Complete the Sentence
里基是个非常难____候的孩子。
Ricky was a very demanding child.
Example Sentences for 伺 (2)
Word Family of 伺
Compound Meaning
What does 伺候 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 伺
伺 (cì) has a connotation of waiting attentively or serving, while 等 (děng) simply means 'to wait' without the same level of formality.
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