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March 24, 2026
恃shì(shi4)
The character 恃 (shì) means to trust or rely on someone or something. It often carries a nuance of presumption or over-reliance, suggesting a sense of dependence that may not be warranted. This term can also refer formally to 'mother' in certain contexts, highlighting its layered meanings in different usages.
Strokes9Radical忄Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Confucian culture, the concept of relying on family, especially on one's mother, is significant. The formal use of 恃 to mean 'mother' can reflect the traditional value placed on maternal support and guidance.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person leaning against a wall (the character's form) for support, symbolizing reliance. The wall represents trust, while the act of leaning illustrates the presumption that it will always be there for support.
Meanings of 恃
shì(shi4)
1to trust, to rely on; to presume
2mother (formal)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 恃
恃Simplified
9Strokes
忄Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 恃
Podcast: 恃
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AI Study Notes for 恃
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person leaning against a wall (the character's form) for support, symbolizing reliance. The wall represents trust, while the act of leaning illustrates the presumption that it will always be there for support.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 恃 with other similar-sounding characters, such as 视 (shì, to see). It's important to use 恃 in contexts involving trust or reliance, and be cautious with the tone as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings. Common collocations include 恃才傲物 (shì cái ào wù), meaning to rely on one's talent and look down on others.
HSK Study Tips
While 恃 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it can be related to other verbs expressing reliance or trust. Students should focus on the context in which it is used and practice distinguishing it from similar characters in pronunciation and meaning.
Cultural Note
In Confucian culture, the concept of relying on family, especially on one's mother, is significant. The formal use of 恃 to mean 'mother' can reflect the traditional value placed on maternal support and guidance.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misinterpret 恃 as merely meaning 'mother,' overlooking its broader implications of reliance and presumption. For example, saying '她是我妈妈，恃' instead of '她是我妈妈' is incorrect; the sentence should not include 恃 in this context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 恃
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Grammar Patterns of 恃
恃 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 2
Complete the Sentence
他和他爸爸一样都是个____强凌弱的莽夫。
He is a hothead and a bully just like his dad.
Example Sentences for 恃 (2)
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1
他和他爸爸一样都是个恃强凌弱的莽夫。
tā hé tā bà bà yī yàng dū shì gè shì qiáng líng ruò de mǎng fū。
He is a hothead and a bully just like his dad.
2
他恃强欺弱，总是想吓得人们按他的意愿做事。
tā shì qiáng qī ruò， ， zǒng shì xiǎng xià dé rén mén àn tā de yì yuàn zuò。
He was a bully. He tried to frighten people into doing what he wanted.
Cultural Notes for 恃
🏮Cultural insight
In Confucian culture, the concept of relying on family, especially on one's mother, is significant. The formal use of 恃 to mean 'mother' can reflect the traditional value placed on maternal support and guidance.
Word Family of 恃
Words Containing This Character10
恃强凌弱to bully恃強凌弱
自恃self-esteem
恃shìto rely on
有恃无恐secure in the knowledge that one has backing有恃無恐
仗恃to rely on
恃才傲物to be inordinately proud of one's ability
凭恃to depend on憑恃
恃强欺弱to bully恃強欺弱
怙恃to rely on
失恃to lose one's mother
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 恃强凌弱 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 恃
Common phrases include 恃才傲物, which describes someone who relies too much on their abilities.
It is less common in everyday speech but may appear in literary or formal contexts.
