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誓 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
誓
shì
oath
vg, 14 strokes, radical 言, rank #5103, Hard
誓
shì
vow
vg, 14 strokes, radical 言, rank #5103, Hard
誓
shì
to swear
vg, 14 strokes, radical 言, rank #5103, Hard
誓
shì
to pledge
vg, 14 strokes, radical 言, rank #5103, Hard
shì(shi4)shi T4
1oath
2vow
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March 24, 2026
誓shì(shi4)
The character 誓 (shì) refers to an oath or vow, often indicating a solemn promise or commitment to uphold certain principles or actions. It is commonly used in contexts such as wedding vows, legal pledges, or personal commitments, emphasizing the seriousness of the promise made.
Strokes14Radical言Frequency#5103DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, making an oath is often seen as a serious commitment, especially in traditional ceremonies like weddings, where vows are exchanged publicly. This underscores the importance of honor and integrity in personal and social relationships.
Memory tip
Imagine a person taking an oath in front of a crowd, holding a scroll (the character has the speech radical 说 on the left) while their heart (心) is in the right place, symbolizing sincerity. The sound 'shì' can be remembered as 'she swears it is true,' linking the pronunciation to the act of swearing an oath.
Meanings of 誓
shì(shi4)
1oath
2vow
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About 誓
誓Simplified
14Strokes
言Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#5103Frequency Rank
Podcast: 誓
Podcast: 誓
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AI study notes for 誓
Quick Contrast
誓 (shì) vs 承诺 (chéngnuò) — use 誓 for solemn or formal vows, while 承诺 refers to a general promise.
Usage Notes
Be cautious of using 誓 (shì) in informal settings, as it conveys a strong sense of commitment and solemnity. It is commonly paired with phrases like '誓言' (shìyán - oath, vow) or '誓约' (shìyuē - pledge). Mistakes often arise from confusing it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
Though 誓 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with other words related to promises and commitments, like '承诺' (chéngnuò - commitment) at HSK Level 5. Focus on understanding its usage in formal contexts to enhance vocabulary depth.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 誓 by confusing it with the more casual '承诺' (chéngnuò - promise). For example, saying '我承诺我的誓' (Wǒ chéngnuò wǒ de shì) is incorrect; instead, simply use '我誓言' (Wǒ shìyán - I vow).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 誓
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The character 誓 (shì) refers to an oath or vow, often indicating a solemn promise or commitment to uphold certain principles or actions. It is commonly used in contexts such as wedding vows, legal pledges, or personal commitments, emphasizing the seriousness of the promise made.
When to use 誓
Be cautious of using 誓 (shì) in informal settings, as it conveys a strong sense of commitment and solemnity. It is commonly paired with phrases like '誓言' (shìyán - oath, vow) or '誓约' (shìyuē - pledge). Mistakes often arise from confusing it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.
誓 or something close to it
誓 (shì) vs 承诺 (chéngnuò) — use 誓 for solemn or formal vows, while 承诺 refers to a general promise.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 誓 by confusing it with the more casual '承诺' (chéngnuò - promise). For example, saying '我承诺我的誓' (Wǒ chéngnuò wǒ de shì) is incorrect; instead, simply use '我誓言' (Wǒ shìyán - I vow).
Write 誓
誓
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Grammar patterns of 誓
誓 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 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.
The conqueror tried to make the natives abjure their religion.
9
他们确实照他们的誓言做了.
tāmen quèshí zhào tāmen de shì yán zuò le.
They have truly lived up to their pledge.
10
她发誓绝不再借钱给别人.
tā fāshì jué bùzài jiè qián gěi biérén.
She took a vow never to lend money to anyone again.
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Word Family of 誓
Words containing this character17
发誓fāshìto vow發誓
誓言shìyánto pledge
誓shìoath
宣誓xuānshìto make a vow
信誓旦旦xìnshìdàndànto make a solemn vow
誓死shìsǐto pledge one's life
起誓qǐshìto vow
宣誓就职xuānshìjiùzhíto swear the oath of office宣誓就職
誓词shìcíoath誓詞
海誓山盟hǎishìshānméngto swear by all the Gods
山盟海誓shānménghǎishìto swear by all the Gods
誓约shìyuēoath誓約
誓师shìshīto vow before one's troops誓師
盟誓méngshìoath of alliance
赌咒发誓dǔzhòufāshìto vow賭咒發誓
誓不两立shìbùliǎnglìincompatible standpoints誓不兩立
誓死不从shìsǐbùcóngto vow to die rather than obey (idiom)誓死不從
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 誓
What does 发誓 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 誓
誓 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, as it's more formal and often appears in legal or ceremonial contexts. However, it can be found in literature and speeches, emphasizing serious commitments.
Common phrases with 誓 include '发誓' (fāshì), which means 'to make a vow' or 'to swear.' Another example is '誓言' (shìyán), meaning 'oath' or 'pledge.' These phrases highlight the character's use in expressing commitment.
To use 誓 (shì) in a sentence, you can say something like '我发誓要完成这个任务' (Wǒ fāshì yào wánchéng zhège rènwù), meaning 'I vow to complete this task.' It emphasizes a strong commitment to an action or promise.
誓 (shì) means 'oath' or 'vow' in Chinese. It can also mean 'to swear' or 'to pledge'. This character is often used in formal contexts and can convey a sense of commitment or promise.
You can say '我向你誓言' (Wǒ xiàng nǐ shìyán - I vow to you) to express a formal promise.
No, 誓 is generally reserved for formal situations, such as legal oaths or significant personal commitments.
It's best to avoid using 誓 in casual contexts, as it implies a level of seriousness that may not be appropriate in informal conversations.
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