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March 24, 2026
室shì(Shi4)
The character 室 (shì) primarily means 'room' or 'chamber,' often used to refer to specific spaces within a house, such as a bedroom or office. It can also refer to a work unit in a professional context, and it has historical significance in terms of family lineage or clans. Additionally, 室 is associated with certain constellations in Chinese astronomy, reflecting its broad usage across different contexts.
Strokes9Radical宀Frequency#1158DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'room' extends beyond mere physical space; it reflects the importance of family and communal living. The arrangement of rooms in a house often signifies social hierarchy and family dynamics.
Memory Tip
Imagine a cozy 'room' (室) where each wall is a 'house' (家) made of wooden beams. The shape of the character resembles a small house with a roof (the top part) and walls (the bottom part), helping you remember that it refers to a space where people gather.
Meanings of 室
shì(Shi4)
1room
2work unit
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 室
室Simplified
9Strokes
宀Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1158Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2BCT✓CEFRA2
Podcast: 室
Podcast: 室
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AI Study Notes for 室
Quick Contrast
房 (fáng) vs 室 (shì): Use 室 when referring to a more formal or specific type of room, such as a chamber or office, while 房 typically refers to a more general living space like a house or room.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 室 with other similar characters like 房 (fáng), which specifically means 'house' or 'building.' 室 is more about the interior space. It is primarily used in formal contexts when referring to specific types of rooms or work units, such as 办公室 (bàngōngshì - office room). Be mindful of the tone; the second tone in shì can lead to confusion if mispronounced.
HSK Study Tips
While 室 is not listed in the official HSK levels, it is relevant for learners at HSK 3 and above, especially when discussing places or work environments. Students should focus on vocabulary related to rooms and spaces, as well as collocations like 会议室 (huìyìshì - conference room) to enhance their understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 室 with the character 屋 (wū), which also means 'room' but implies more of a dwelling. For example, saying '我在屋工作' (Wǒ zài wū gōngzuò - I work in the room) should be corrected to '我在室工作' (Wǒ zài shì gōngzuò).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 室
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How Well Do You Know 室?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 室 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
室 = 宀 + 至. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 室
IDS Structure⿱宀至
室Full Character
=
宀gai4
top
至zhi4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 室?
How to say room in Chinese
“room” in Chinese is室shì
The character 室 (shì) primarily means 'room' or 'chamber,' often used to refer to specific spaces within a house, such as a bedroom or office. It can also refer to a work unit in a professional context, and it has historical significance in terms of family lineage or clans. Additionally, 室 is associated with certain constellations in Chinese astronomy, reflecting its broad usage across different contexts.
When to use 室
Common mistakes include confusing 室 with other similar characters like 房 (fáng), which specifically means 'house' or 'building.' 室 is more about the interior space. It is primarily used in formal contexts when referring to specific types of rooms or work units, such as 办公室 (bàngōngshì - office room). Be mindful of the tone; the second tone in shì can lead to confusion if mispronounced.
室 or something close to it
房 (fáng) vs 室 (shì): Use 室 when referring to a more formal or specific type of room, such as a chamber or office, while 房 typically refers to a more general living space like a house or room.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 室 with the character 屋 (wū), which also means 'room' but implies more of a dwelling. For example, saying '我在屋工作' (Wǒ zài wū gōngzuò - I work in the room) should be corrected to '我在室工作' (Wǒ zài shì gōngzuò).
Write 室
室
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Practice writing 室 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 室
室 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 8 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.
