unknown, 13 strokes, radical 口, rank #8033, Very Hard
shì(shi4) T4
1addicted to, fond of, with a weakness for
2stem corresponding to -phil or -phile
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March 24, 2026
嗜shì(shi4)
The character 嗜 (shì) refers to a strong fondness or addiction to something. It is commonly used in contexts where a person has a particular taste or preference, such as for food or activities, and implies a certain level of enthusiasm or obsession. This term often appears in discussions about hobbies, habits, or even vices.
Strokes13Radical口Frequency#8033DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of addiction or strong preference is often reflected in the appreciation of certain foods, tea, and even traditional practices, highlighting the depth of enjoyment in everyday life. For example, tea culture in China emphasizes a fondness for various types of tea, which can be expressed using 嗜.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person named 'Shi' who cannot stop eating sweets. The character 嗜 has a mouth radical (口) which connects to the act of eating, emphasizing the fondness or addiction associated with it. Visualize Shi surrounded by candy, unable to resist his favorite treat.
Meanings of 嗜
shì(shi4)
1addicted to, fond of, with a weakness for
2stem corresponding to -phil or -phile
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 嗜
嗜Simplified
13Strokes
口Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嗜
Podcast: 嗜
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AI Study Notes for 嗜
Quick Contrast
嗜 (shì) vs 喜 (xǐ) — use 嗜 for a stronger or more obsessive fondness than 喜, which indicates general liking.
Usage Notes
It's important to use 嗜 in contexts that imply a strong preference or addiction, as using it too casually may sound overly dramatic. Common collocations include 嗜好 (shìhào) meaning 'hobby' or 'preference'. Be cautious with the tone; it is pronounced with a falling tone (shì).
HSK Study Tips
While 嗜 is not in the official HSK levels, it connects well with other words expressing preferences or habits, such as 爱 (ài, love) or 喜欢 (xǐhuān, like). Students should focus on understanding its connotation of addiction or strong fondness, as this nuance sets it apart from similar terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嗜 with 喜欢 (xǐhuān), using it when they mean to say they like something. For instance, saying 我嗜这个 (Wǒ shì zhège) to mean 'I like this' is incorrect; it should be 我喜欢这个 (Wǒ xǐhuān zhège).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嗜
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Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 耆 represents the sound.
1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
2The sound half耆 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymouth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 嗜? 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 嗜?
Decomposition of 嗜
IDS Structure⿰口耆
嗜Full Character
=
口kou3
left
耆qi2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 嗜?
How to say addicted to, fond of, with a weakness for in Chinese
“addicted to, fond of, with a weakness for” in Chinese is嗜shì
The character 嗜 (shì) refers to a strong fondness or addiction to something. It is commonly used in contexts where a person has a particular taste or preference, such as for food or activities, and implies a certain level of enthusiasm or obsession. This term often appears in discussions about hobbies, habits, or even vices.
When to use 嗜
It's important to use 嗜 in contexts that imply a strong preference or addiction, as using it too casually may sound overly dramatic. Common collocations include 嗜好 (shìhào) meaning 'hobby' or 'preference'. Be cautious with the tone; it is pronounced with a falling tone (shì).
嗜 or something close to it
嗜 (shì) vs 喜 (xǐ) — use 嗜 for a stronger or more obsessive fondness than 喜, which indicates general liking.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 嗜 with 喜欢 (xǐhuān), using it when they mean to say they like something. For instance, saying 我嗜这个 (Wǒ shì zhège) to mean 'I like this' is incorrect; it should be 我喜欢这个 (Wǒ xǐhuān zhège).
Write 嗜
嗜
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Practice writing 嗜 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 嗜
嗜 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 2 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
在1985年，他开始表现出酗酒____毒的迹象。
In 1985, he began to show signs of alcohol and drug dependency.
