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March 24, 2026
司Sī(Si1)
The character 司 (sī) primarily means 'to take charge of' or 'to manage.' It is commonly used in contexts related to administration, management, or official duties, such as in government departments. Additionally, it serves as a surname in Chinese culture.
Strokes5Radical口Frequency#2187DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, officials often held the title 司 in various government departments, indicating their managerial roles. This character reflects the importance of hierarchy and organization in Chinese governance.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wise old man (司) sitting behind a desk, holding a gavel, as he manages a meeting. The character looks like a person with a hat (the top part) overseeing a group (the bottom part), reminding you of someone in charge.
Meanings of 司
Sī(Si1)
1to take charge of
2to manage
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 司
司Simplified
5Strokes
口Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#2187Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3
Podcast: 司
Podcast: 司
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AI Study Notes for 司
Quick Contrast
司 (sī) vs 管 (guǎn): Use 司 when referring specifically to taking charge or managing in an official context, while 管 is more general for 'to manage' or 'to control'.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 司 with similar characters, mistaking it for '司令' (sīlìng, commander) or '管理' (guǎnlǐ, to manage). It is used in formal contexts, especially in government and business, so ensure you use appropriate language when applying it.
HSK Study Tips
Although 司 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other management-related terms in higher levels. Focus on its usage in administrative contexts and practice collocations like '司长' (sīzhǎng, department head) to solidify understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 司 as 'sǐ,' confusing it with '死' (sǐ, to die). Remember to use the first tone 'sī' to convey the correct meaning of management or department.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 司
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司 (take charge) and its mirror image 后 (empress) were originally used interchangeably. The origin of both characters is unclear.
1The giveawayA person speaking orders 口 and raising their arm
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 司? 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 司?
Decomposition of 司
IDS Structure⿹？口
司Full Character
=
口kou3
enclosing
Exercise 1 of 1
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 司?
How to say surname Si in Chinese
“surname Si” in Chinese is司Sī
The character 司 (sī) primarily means 'to take charge of' or 'to manage.' It is commonly used in contexts related to administration, management, or official duties, such as in government departments. Additionally, it serves as a surname in Chinese culture.
When to use 司
Learners often confuse 司 with similar characters, mistaking it for '司令' (sīlìng, commander) or '管理' (guǎnlǐ, to manage). It is used in formal contexts, especially in government and business, so ensure you use appropriate language when applying it.
司 or something close to it
司 (sī) vs 管 (guǎn): Use 司 when referring specifically to taking charge or managing in an official context, while 管 is more general for 'to manage' or 'to control'.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 司 as 'sǐ,' confusing it with '死' (sǐ, to die). Remember to use the first tone 'sī' to convey the correct meaning of management or department.
Write 司
司
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Practice writing 司 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 司
司 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 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.
