unknown, 15 strokes, radical 口, rank #19405, Very Hard
嘶
sī
neigh
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 口, rank #19405, Very Hard
嘶
sī
Ss! (sound of air sucked between the teeth, indicating hesitation or thinking over)
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 口, rank #19405, Very Hard
sī(si1) T1
1the neighing of a hoarse, gravel-voiced, hoarse
2hiss
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March 24, 2026
嘶sī(si1)
The character 嘶 (sī) refers to the sound made by horses, often described as a neigh or a hiss. It can also represent a hissing sound made by people, indicating hesitation or contemplation. This character is commonly used in literary or dramatic contexts to convey emotional tension or uncertainty.
Strokes15Radical口Frequency#19405DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the sound of a horse is often associated with freedom and adventure, reflecting the historical significance of horses in transportation and warfare. The character 嘶 encapsulates this cultural connection through its auditory imagery.
Memory Tip
Imagine a horse that’s trying to neigh but has a sore throat, making a 'sī' sound instead. The character 嘶 looks like a horse (the radical for horse, 马, is present) struggling to express itself, connecting both form and sound to its meaning.
Meanings of 嘶
sī(si1)
1the neighing of a hoarse, gravel-voiced, hoarse
2hiss
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 嘶
嘶Simplified
15Strokes
口Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嘶
Podcast: 嘶
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AI Study Notes for 嘶
Usage Notes
This character is typically used in more literary or descriptive contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the tone is critical, as a mispronunciation can alter meaning. It often appears in phrases describing sounds or emotions.
HSK Study Tips
While 嘶 is not included in the HSK levels, understanding it can enhance comprehension of descriptive language and sound representation in Chinese. Students should focus on recognizing this character in texts and associating it with related sounds and emotions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嘶 with similar-sounding characters like 思 (sī), which means 'to think'. For example, saying '我在嘶这个问题' instead of '我在思考这个问题' (I am thinking about this question) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嘶
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Drill the tone of 嘶 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 斯 represents the sound.
1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
2The sound half斯 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 嘶? 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 嘶?
Decomposition of 嘶
IDS Structure⿰口斯
嘶Full Character
=
口kou3
left
斯Si1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 嘶?
How to say the neighing of a hoarse, gravel-voiced, hoarse in Chinese
“the neighing of a hoarse, gravel-voiced, hoarse” in Chinese is嘶sī
The character 嘶 (sī) refers to the sound made by horses, often described as a neigh or a hiss. It can also represent a hissing sound made by people, indicating hesitation or contemplation. This character is commonly used in literary or dramatic contexts to convey emotional tension or uncertainty.
When to use 嘶
This character is typically used in more literary or descriptive contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the tone is critical, as a mispronunciation can alter meaning. It often appears in phrases describing sounds or emotions.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 嘶 with similar-sounding characters like 思 (sī), which means 'to think'. For example, saying '我在嘶这个问题' instead of '我在思考这个问题' (I am thinking about this question) is incorrect.
Write 嘶
嘶
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Practice writing 嘶 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 嘶
嘶 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
“那么你认为如何？”她声音____哑地悄声问道。
"So what do you think?" she said in a hoarse whisper.
Example Sentences for 嘶 (9)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
“那么你认为如何？”她声音嘶哑地悄声问道。
“ “ nà mó nǐ rèn wéi rú？” hé ？” tā shēng yīn sī yǎ dì qiǎo shēng。
"So what do you think?" she said in a hoarse whisper.
2
煤火烧得正旺，上面的铁茶壶嘶嘶地响个不停。
méi huǒ shāo dé zhèng wàng， ， shàng miàn de tiě chá hú sī sī dì xiǎng gè bù。
The iron teakettle was hissing splendidly over live coals.
