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諡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
諡shìposthumous name or titlex, 16 strokes, radical 言
shì(shi4) T4
  1. 1posthumous name or title
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

諡shì(shi4)

The character 諡 (shì) refers to a posthumous name or title given to emperors, nobles, or significant historical figures in Chinese culture. This name is usually conferred after death to honor their legacy and is often used in historical texts and discussions about ancestral respect and lineage.

Strokes16Radical言
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the conferring of a posthumous name is a significant practice that reflects the Confucian values of filial piety and respect for one's ancestors, emphasizing the importance of legacy.

Memory Tip

Imagine a noble figure who is so distinguished that even in death, they receive a special title. The character 諡 looks like a speech (言) on a noble's (士) tombstone, symbolizing the words spoken about their greatness after they have passed.

Meanings of 諡

shì(shi4)
1posthumous name or title
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 諡

諡Simplified
16Strokes
言Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 諡

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Podcast: 諡

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AI Study Notes for 諡

Usage Notes

This character is typically used in formal or historical contexts, so it's important to use it appropriately. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar characters that denote titles or honors, which may lead to incorrect usage in casual conversations.

HSK Study Tips

Although 諡 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it connects with other terms related to honor and respect for the deceased. Focus on understanding its historical context and usage in classical literature to appreciate its significance in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 諡 with similar characters like 爵 (jué, title) or 名 (míng, name), leading to incorrect interpretations. For instance, saying '他有一个諡' (Tā yǒu yīgè shì) instead of '他有一个名号' (Tā yǒu yīgè mínghào) for 'He has a title' can cause misunderstanding.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 諡

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Etymology of 諡

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

speech

Semantic (meaning)言
+
Phonetic (sound)㿽
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 諡

  1. 1The meaning half言 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half㿽 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayspeech
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 諡? 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 諡?

Decomposition of 諡

IDS Structure⿰言㿽
諡Full Character
=
言yan2
left
㿽xi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 諡?

How to say posthumous name or title in Chinese

“posthumous name or title” in Chinese is諡shì

The character 諡 (shì) refers to a posthumous name or title given to emperors, nobles, or significant historical figures in Chinese culture. This name is usually conferred after death to honor their legacy and is often used in historical texts and discussions about ancestral respect and lineage.

When to use 諡

This character is typically used in formal or historical contexts, so it's important to use it appropriately. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar characters that denote titles or honors, which may lead to incorrect usage in casual conversations.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 諡 with similar characters like 爵 (jué, title) or 名 (míng, name), leading to incorrect interpretations. For instance, saying '他有一个諡' (Tā yǒu yīgè shì) instead of '他有一个名号' (Tā yǒu yīgè mínghào) for 'He has a title' can cause misunderstanding.

Write 諡

諡

Practice writing 諡 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 諡

Words Containing This Character1
谥shìposthumous name or title諡
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 谥 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 諡

In modern contexts, 諡 is rarely used, but it often appears in historical discussions or literature regarding ancient emperors and officials.

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