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March 24, 2026
湿(溼)shī(shi1)
The character 湿 (shī) means 'wet' or 'moist' and is commonly used to describe conditions involving water or humidity. It can refer to physical states, such as damp clothing or a humid environment, and is also used in medical contexts to describe illnesses associated with moisture.
Strokes12Radical氵Frequency#2551DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, humidity is often associated with traditional beliefs about health, where excess moisture can lead to illnesses known as '湿邪,' believed to disrupt the body's balance.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wet sponge—when you squeeze it, water drips out, symbolizing the meaning of 湿 (shī). The character has the water radical氵 on the left, reinforcing the concept of wetness, and the right part (湿) looks like droplets falling down.
Meanings of 湿
shī(shi1)
1moist
2wet
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 湿
湿Simplified
溼Traditional
12Strokes
氵Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#2551Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 湿
Podcast: 湿
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AI Study Notes for 湿
Quick Contrast
湿 (shī) vs 潮 (cháo) — use 湿 for general wetness, while 潮 refers specifically to tidal or damp conditions.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 湿 (shī) with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings, such as 失 (shī), which means 'to lose.' It's often used in both formal and informal contexts, but specific phrases like '湿气' (shīqì - humidity) are more common in everyday conversation.
HSK Study Tips
Although 湿 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it is relevant for HSK 3 learners as they begin to describe environmental conditions. Focus on its usage in phrases related to weather and health to enhance vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 湿 (shī) with 失 (shī), leading to incorrect usage in sentences like '我今天失' (Wǒ jīntiān shī - intending to say 'I am wet today'). The correct form should be '我今天湿' (Wǒ jīntiān shī).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 湿
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Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 显 represents the sound. Simplified form of 濕.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half显 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywater
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 湿? 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 湿?
Decomposition of 湿
IDS Structure⿰氵显
湿Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
显xian3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 湿?
How to say moist in Chinese
“moist” in Chinese is湿shī
The character 湿 (shī) means 'wet' or 'moist' and is commonly used to describe conditions involving water or humidity. It can refer to physical states, such as damp clothing or a humid environment, and is also used in medical contexts to describe illnesses associated with moisture.
When to use 湿
Be careful not to confuse 湿 (shī) with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings, such as 失 (shī), which means 'to lose.' It's often used in both formal and informal contexts, but specific phrases like '湿气' (shīqì - humidity) are more common in everyday conversation.
湿 or something close to it
湿 (shī) vs 潮 (cháo) — use 湿 for general wetness, while 潮 refers specifically to tidal or damp conditions.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 湿 (shī) with 失 (shī), leading to incorrect usage in sentences like '我今天失' (Wǒ jīntiān shī - intending to say 'I am wet today'). The correct form should be '我今天湿' (Wǒ jīntiān shī).
Write 湿
湿
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Grammar Patterns of 湿
湿 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 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.
