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身 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
身
shēn
body
HSK 4, ng, 7 strokes, radical 身, rank #698, Medium
身
shēn
life
HSK 4, ng, 7 strokes, radical 身, rank #698, Medium
身
shēn
oneself
HSK 4, ng, 7 strokes, radical 身, rank #698, Medium
身
shēn
personally
HSK 4, ng, 7 strokes, radical 身, rank #698, Medium
身
shēn
one's morality and conduct
HSK 4, ng, 7 strokes, radical 身, rank #698, Medium
身
shēn
the main part of a structure or body
HSK 4, ng, 7 strokes, radical 身, rank #698, Medium
身
shēn
pregnant
HSK 4, ng, 7 strokes, radical 身, rank #698, Medium
身
shēn
classifier for sets of clothes: suit, twinset
HSK 4, ng, 7 strokes, radical 身, rank #698, Medium
身
shēn
Kangxi radical 158
HSK 4, ng, 7 strokes, radical 身, rank #698, Medium
身
shēn
body, torso; person; pregnancy
HSK 4, ng, 7 strokes, radical 身, rank #698, Medium
shēn(shen1)shen T1
1body
2life
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March 24, 2026
身shēn(shen1)
The character 身 (shēn) primarily means 'body' and can refer to one's physical form or life. It is commonly used in contexts relating to personal identity, morality, and physical presence, often implying a deeper connection to oneself or one's existence.
Strokes7Radical身Frequency#698DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 身 often extends beyond the physical body to encompass moral and ethical dimensions, reflecting the belief in the unity of body and spirit in personal conduct and virtue.
Memory tip
Imagine a person (representing 身) standing tall with their arms outstretched, symbolizing their 'body' and 'life.' The character's vertical line can be visualized as the spine, emphasizing the physical form, while the horizontal strokes represent arms extending outward, connecting to the idea of self.
Meanings of 身
shēn(shen1)
1body
2life
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 身 means.
About 身
身Simplified
7Strokes
身Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#698Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4
Podcast: 身
Podcast: 身
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AI study notes for 身
Quick Contrast
身体 (shēntǐ, body) vs 身体素质 (shēntǐ sùzhì, physical fitness) — use 身 (shēn) when emphasizing personal identity or existence rather than just physical attributes.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 身 with other similar characters that denote parts of the body. The term is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings, but it is essential to pair it correctly in phrases, such as 身体 (shēntǐ - 'body') or 身份 (shēnfèn - 'identity').
HSK Study Tips
身 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists but is relevant for learners at HSK 3 and above. Students should focus on how 身 connects with common phrases and compounds, enhancing their understanding of personal identity and physicality in Mandarin.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 身 incorrectly when referring to body parts specifically, such as saying 身的手 (shēn de shǒu - 'body's hand') instead of 手 (shǒu - 'hand'). It's essential to use 身 in contexts related to the whole body or identity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 身
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Example
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六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Explanation
Pictograph of a person with an protruding midsection. The protruding midsection is variously explained as (1) representing the main part of a person's body, or (2) as representing a pregnant woman that has a body inside her body.
The character 身 (shēn) primarily means 'body' and can refer to one's physical form or life. It is commonly used in contexts relating to personal identity, morality, and physical presence, often implying a deeper connection to oneself or one's existence.
When to use 身
Learners often confuse 身 with other similar characters that denote parts of the body. The term is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings, but it is essential to pair it correctly in phrases, such as 身体 (shēntǐ - 'body') or 身份 (shēnfèn - 'identity').
身 or something close to it
身体 (shēntǐ, body) vs 身体素质 (shēntǐ sùzhì, physical fitness) — use 身 (shēn) when emphasizing personal identity or existence rather than just physical attributes.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes use 身 incorrectly when referring to body parts specifically, such as saying 身的手 (shēn de shǒu - 'body's hand') instead of 手 (shǒu - 'hand'). It's essential to use 身 in contexts related to the whole body or identity.
Write 身
身
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Practice writing 身 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 身
身 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 10 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.
