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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
Exercise 1 of 3
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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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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.
Under oath, Aston finally admitted that he had lied.
8
征服者试著让当地人宣誓放弃他们的宗教.
zhēng fú zhě shì zhù ràng dāng dì rén xuān shì fàng qì tā mén de zōng jiào.
The conqueror tried to make the natives abjure their religion.
9
他们确实照他们的誓言做了.
tā mén què shí zhào tā mén 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 fā shì jué bù zài jiè qián gěi bié rén.
She took a vow never to lend money to anyone again.
Cultural Notes for 誓
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 誓
Words Containing This Character17
发誓fāshìto vow發誓
誓言to pledge
誓shìoath
宣誓xuānshìto make a vow
信誓旦旦to make a solemn vow
誓死to pledge one's life
起誓to vow
宣誓就职to swear the oath of office宣誓就職
誓词oath誓詞
海誓山盟to swear by all the Gods
山盟海誓to swear by all the Gods
誓约oath誓約
誓师to vow before one's troops誓師
盟誓oath of alliance
赌咒发誓to vow賭咒發誓
誓不两立incompatible standpoints誓不兩立
誓死不从to vow to die rather than obey (idiom)誓死不從
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
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.
