Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
獅shī(shi1)
The character 獅 (shī) means 'lion,' a large, powerful feline known for its strength and social behavior. It is commonly used in contexts related to wildlife, symbolism, and cultural references, such as the lion dance in Chinese festivals. The character emphasizes the majesty and importance of lions in both nature and mythology.
Strokes13Radical犭Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, lions are often associated with power and protection, commonly seen in lion dance performances during celebrations like the Lunar New Year. The lion is also a symbol of bravery and strength in traditional Chinese art.
Memory Tip
Think of the character 獅 as a lion with its mane flowing. The left side, 犬 (the dog radical), hints at its animal nature, while the right side, 斯, can evoke the sound 'shī' when pronounced. Imagine a lion roaring, 'Shī!' to remember its sound and meaning.
Meanings of 獅
shī(shi1)
1lion
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 獅
獅Simplified
13Strokes
犭Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 獅
Podcast: 獅
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 獅
Quick Contrast
狮 (shī) vs 豹 (bào) — use 獅 for 'lion' specifically, while 豹 refers to 'leopard'.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of the character 獅 as a lion with its mane flowing. The left side, 犬 (the dog radical), hints at its animal nature, while the right side, 斯, can evoke the sound 'shī' when pronounced. Imagine a lion roaring, 'Shī!' to remember its sound and meaning.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 獅 with similar sounding characters like 师 (shī) meaning 'teacher.' It is generally used in formal contexts or when discussing animals. Common collocations include 獅子 (shīzi) which means 'lion' in a more general sense.
HSK Study Tips
Although 獅 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be beneficial for learners at HSK 4 or above who may encounter it in literature or discussions about wildlife. Students should focus on recognizing the character and its pronunciation when reading texts related to animals.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, lions are often associated with power and protection, commonly seen in lion dance performances during celebrations like the Lunar New Year. The lion is also a symbol of bravery and strength in traditional Chinese art.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 獅 (shī) with similar sounding characters, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '獅子' (shī) instead of '獅子' (shīzi) when referring to a lion is incorrect; always use the full term for clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 獅
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 獅 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 獅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 獅
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, lions are often associated with power and protection, commonly seen in lion dance performances during celebrations like the Lunar New Year. The lion is also a symbol of bravery and strength in traditional Chinese art.
Word Family of 獅
Words Containing This Character19
狮子shīziLeo (star sign)獅子
狮子座Leo (constellation and sign of the zodiac)獅子座
狮shīlion獅
狮子狗Pekingese獅子狗
美洲狮cougar美洲獅
海狮sea lion海獅
雄狮male lion雄獅
石狮Shishi county level city in Quanzhou 泉州[Quánzhōu], Fujian石獅
舞狮lion dance (traditional Chinese dance form)舞獅
石狮市Shishi county level city in Quanzhou 泉州[Quánzhōu], Fujian石獅市
狮子头lit. lion's head獅子頭
狮身人面像sphinx獅身人面像
狮子山Sierra Leone (Tw)獅子山
狮城Lion city, nickname for Singapore 新加坡[Xīnjiāpō]獅城
河东狮吼lit. the lioness from Hedong roars (idiom)河東獅吼
狮泉河Sengge Tsangpo or Shiquan River in west Tibet, the upper reaches of the Indus獅泉河
金狮奖Golden Lion, award at the Venice Film Festival金獅獎
狮子山区Shizishan district of Tongling city 銅陵市|铜陵市[Tónglíngshì], Anhui獅子山區
小狮座Leo Minor (constellation)小獅座
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 狮子 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 獅
It is pronounced as 'shī' with a high level tone.
Not frequently; it’s more common in specific contexts like animal discussions or cultural references.
獅子 (shīzi) is the more commonly used term for 'lion,' while 獅 can be more formal or literary.
