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嗣 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
嗣sìto connect; to inherit; descendants, heirsng, 13 strokes, radical 口, rank #23206, Very Hard
嗣sìsuccession (to a title)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 口, rank #23206, Very Hard
嗣sìcontinuing (a tradition)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 口, rank #23206, Very Hard
嗣sìposterityunknown, 13 strokes, radical 口, rank #23206, Very Hard
sì(si4)si T4
  1. 1to connect; to inherit; descendants, heirs
  2. 2succession (to a title)
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March 24, 2026

嗣sì(si4)

The character 嗣 (sì) primarily means to inherit or to pass down, particularly in the context of lineage or succession. It is commonly used to refer to heirs or descendants, as well as the continuation of traditions or titles. This word often appears in formal or historical contexts, especially in discussions about family heritage or royal succession.

Strokes13Radical口Frequency#23206DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, lineage and the concept of succession are deeply rooted, especially in Confucian values that emphasize respect for ancestors and the importance of heirs. The character 嗣 reflects this cultural significance of family continuity.

Memory tip

To remember 嗣 (sì), think of a 'sigh' (sounds like 'sì') that follows when someone learns they are the heir to a grand legacy. The character has a phonetic component that sounds like 'sì', while the mouth radical (口) hints at speaking of one's lineage.

Meanings of 嗣

sì(si4)
1to connect; to inherit; descendants, heirs
2succession (to a title)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 嗣

嗣Simplified
13Strokes
口Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 嗣

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AI study notes for 嗣

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 嗣 (sì) with similar-sounding words. It is typically used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include '嗣子' (sì zǐ - heir) and '嗣位' (sì wèi - succeed to a position).

HSK Study Tips

Although 嗣 (sì) is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be associated with words related to family and inheritance that are at similar levels, such as 家 (jiā - family) and 传 (chuán - to pass on). Focus on understanding its use in historical or literary texts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 嗣 (sì) with 司 (sī), which means to manage or control. For example, saying '我想成为家族的司' (I want to be the manager of the family) is incorrect; it should be '我想成为家族的嗣' (I want to be the heir of the family).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 嗣

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Etymology of 嗣

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

book

Semantic (meaning)冊
+
Phonetic (sound)司
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

嗣 = 冊 + 司. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 嗣

IDS Structure⿰⿱口冊司
嗣Full character
=
口kou3
top
冊ce4
bottom
司Si1
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 嗣?

How to say to connect; to inherit; descendants, heirs in Chinese

“to connect; to inherit; descendants, heirs” in Chinese is嗣sì

The character 嗣 (sì) primarily means to inherit or to pass down, particularly in the context of lineage or succession. It is commonly used to refer to heirs or descendants, as well as the continuation of traditions or titles. This word often appears in formal or historical contexts, especially in discussions about family heritage or royal succession.

When to use 嗣

Be cautious not to confuse 嗣 (sì) with similar-sounding words. It is typically used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include '嗣子' (sì zǐ - heir) and '嗣位' (sì wèi - succeed to a position).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 嗣 (sì) with 司 (sī), which means to manage or control. For example, saying '我想成为家族的司' (I want to be the manager of the family) is incorrect; it should be '我想成为家族的嗣' (I want to be the heir of the family).

Write 嗣

嗣

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

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Word Family of 嗣

Words containing this character7
嗣sìto inherit
子嗣zǐsìson
后嗣hòusìheir後嗣
谭嗣同tánsìtóngTan Sitong (1865-1898), Qing writer and politician, one of the Six Gentlemen Martyrs 戊戌六君子 of the unsuccessful reform movement of 1898譚嗣同
嗣后sìhòuafter嗣後
嗣子sìzǐheir
倪嗣冲nísìchōngNi Sichong (1868-1924), general closely linked to Yuan Shikai 袁世凱|袁世凯 during his unsuccessful 1915 bid for Empire倪嗣沖
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 嗣

What does 子嗣 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 嗣

While both characters relate to inheritance, 嗣 (sì) emphasizes lineage and heirs, whereas 继 (jì) often means to continue or to succeed in a broader sense.

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