Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
寺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
寺
sì
Buddhist temple
HSK 7, ng, 6 strokes, radical 寸, rank #8920, Very Hard
寺
sì
mosque
HSK 7, ng, 6 strokes, radical 寸, rank #8920, Very Hard
寺
sì
government office (old)
HSK 7, ng, 6 strokes, radical 寸, rank #8920, Very Hard
寺
sì
court, office; temple, monastery
HSK 7, ng, 6 strokes, radical 寸, rank #8920, Very Hard
sì(si4)si T4
1Buddhist temple
2mosque
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
寺sì(si4)
The character 寺 (sì) refers primarily to a temple, particularly a Buddhist temple or monastery. It can also denote a mosque or an old government office. This word is commonly used in religious contexts and carries a sense of spirituality and reverence.
Strokes6Radical寸Frequency#8920DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In China, temples like 寺 are integral to cultural heritage, often serving as sites for festivals, rituals, and community gatherings. They reflect the deep-rooted influence of Buddhism in Chinese society.
Memory tip
Imagine a serene scene of a Buddhist temple (寺) nestled in the mountains, where monks meditate in silence. The 'si' sound can be linked to 'see' the beauty of this temple. The character itself resembles a roof (the top part) sheltering the sacred space below.
Meanings of 寺
sì(si4)
1Buddhist temple
2mosque
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 寺 means.
About 寺
寺Simplified
6Strokes
寸Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#8920Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateBCT✓
Podcast: 寺
Podcast: 寺
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 寺
Quick Contrast
庙 (miào) - use 寺 (sì) when referring specifically to a Buddhist temple, while 庙 (miào) is more general and can refer to any kind of temple, including those for folk beliefs.
Usage Notes
Be mindful that 寺 is typically used in formal contexts relating to temples and places of worship. Common collocations include 寺庙 (sìmiào - temple) and 佛教寺 (fójiào sì - Buddhist temple). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 寺 is not included in HSK levels, it connects to Level 3 vocabulary related to places, such as 学校 (xuéxiào - school) and 商店 (shāngdiàn - store). Focus on recognizing its usage in religious contexts and in compound words.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 寺 with similar characters, leading to mistakes like using it in non-religious contexts, such as calling a school (学校) a temple. Always remember that 寺 is specifically for temples and places of worship.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 寺
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 寺, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 寺 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 寺?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 寺 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
Phonosemantic compound. 寸 represents the meaning and 止 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning of "to grasp". The current meaning "temple" is a phonetic loan. The original meaning is now represented by the character 持 (to hold).
The character 寺 (sì) refers primarily to a temple, particularly a Buddhist temple or monastery. It can also denote a mosque or an old government office. This word is commonly used in religious contexts and carries a sense of spirituality and reverence.
When to use 寺
Be mindful that 寺 is typically used in formal contexts relating to temples and places of worship. Common collocations include 寺庙 (sìmiào - temple) and 佛教寺 (fójiào sì - Buddhist temple). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.
寺 or something close to it
庙 (miào) - use 寺 (sì) when referring specifically to a Buddhist temple, while 庙 (miào) is more general and can refer to any kind of temple, including those for folk beliefs.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 寺 with similar characters, leading to mistakes like using it in non-religious contexts, such as calling a school (学校) a temple. Always remember that 寺 is specifically for temples and places of worship.
Write 寺
寺
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 寺 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 寺
寺 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 4 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 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他们呈扇形散开，在____庙周围仔细搜寻。
They fanned out and carefully combed the temple grounds.
There are well - known Ruiyun Temple, jellyfish Temple, Yong - owned kiosks, as Ha Temple.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 寺?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Word Family of 寺
Compounds19
等děngclass
特tèspecial
持chíto hold
待dāito stay
诗shīabbr. for Shijing 詩經
侍shìto serve, to attend upon; servant, attendant; samurai
峙zhìto pile, to stack; to stand tall
痔zhìpiles, hemorrhoids
恃shìto trust, to rely on; to presume
時shítime, season; period, era, age
庤zhì
畤zhì
跱zhì
邿shī
鼭shí
歭chí
洔zhǐ
秲zhì
詩shīpoetry; poem, verse, ode
Words containing this character20
寺sìmosque
寺庙sìmiàotemple寺廟
清真寺qīngzhēnsìmosque
寺院sìyuàncloister
少林寺shàolínsìShaolin Temple, Buddhist monastery famous for its kung fu monks
佛寺fósìBuddhist temple
大昭寺dàzhāosìJokhang, main Buddhist temple in Lhasa, a sacred place of Tibetan Buddhism
塔尔寺tǎ’ěrsìKumbum (Chinese Ta'er), monastery in Qinhai, formerly Amdo province of Tibet塔爾寺
白马寺báimǎsìthe Baima or White Horse Temple in Luoyang, one of the earliest Buddhist temples in China白馬寺
潭柘寺tánzhèsìTanzhe Temple
金山寺jīnshānsìJinshan Temple, where Fahai lives (from Madam White Snake)
法源寺fǎyuánsìFayuan or Source of the Law temple in Beijing
金阁寺jīngésìKinkakuji or Golden pavilion in northwest Kyōto 京都, Japan金閣寺
白塔寺báitǎsìBaita temple in Lanzhou 蘭州|兰州[Lánzhōu]
灵谷寺línggǔsìLinggu temple (Nanjing)靈谷寺
红寺堡hóngsìbǔHongsibao district of Wuzhong city 吳忠市|吴忠市[Wúzhōngshì], Ningxia紅寺堡
甘丹寺gāndānsìGanden monastery, Tibetan: dGa' ldan rNam rgyal gling, Dagzê county 達孜縣|达孜县[Dázīxiàn], Lhasa, Tibet
太仆寺旗tàipúsìqíTaibus banner in Xilin Gol league 錫林郭勒盟|锡林郭勒盟[Xīlínguōlèméng], Inner Mongolia太僕寺旗
小昭寺xiǎozhāosìRamoche Temple, Lhasa
夹山寺jiāshānsìJiashan Temple, Buddhist temple in Shimen 石门, Changde 常德, Hunan, the purported final home and burial place of late Ming peasant rebel leader Li Zicheng 李自成夾山寺
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 寺
What does 等 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 寺
It is pronounced as 'sì', with a falling tone.
While it primarily refers to Buddhist temples, it can also denote mosques.
A common phrase is 寺庙 (sìmiào), which means temple.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 寺?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
