Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
伸shēn(shen1)
The character 伸 (shēn) primarily means 'to stretch' or 'to extend.' It is commonly used in contexts involving physical actions, such as stretching one's body, or metaphorical uses like extending a hand of help or trust. This character conveys a sense of openness and reaching out, both literally and figuratively.
Strokes7Radical亻Frequency#2854DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of stretching or extending can also signify hospitality or friendship, as in extending a hand to welcome guests. This reflects the importance of relationships and support in social interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a long arm reaching out to grab something, representing the stretching action of the character 伸. The radical '手' (shǒu) meaning 'hand' suggests physical movement. You can remember 'shēn' as the sound of someone stretching and saying 'shh' to calm themselves as they reach out.
Meanings of 伸
shēn(shen1)
1to stretch
2to extend
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 伸
伸Simplified
7Strokes
亻Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2854Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 伸
Podcast: 伸
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 伸
Quick Contrast
延 (yán) - use 伸 (shēn) for physical stretching or reaching out, while 延 (yán) is more about prolonging or extending in time.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a long arm reaching out to grab something, representing the stretching action of the character 伸. The radical '手' (shǒu) meaning 'hand' suggests physical movement. You can remember 'shēn' as the sound of someone stretching and saying 'shh' to calm themselves as they reach out.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 伸 with similar verbs like 扩 (kuò, to expand) or 延 (yán, to prolong), which have distinct nuances. It's typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of tone when using it in conversation—'shēn' should be pronounced with a high level tone.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 伸 connects to terms about movements and actions. Students should focus on how it pairs with other verbs to describe physical states or actions, such as 伸展 (shēnzhǎn, to stretch out) and 伸出 (shēnchū, to extend out).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of stretching or extending can also signify hospitality or friendship, as in extending a hand to welcome guests. This reflects the importance of relationships and support in social interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 伸 with its antonym 缩 (suō, to shrink), resulting in sentences like '我需要缩我的手' (Wǒ xūyào suō wǒ de shǒu), which is incorrect. The correct usage would be '我需要伸我的手' (Wǒ xūyào shēn wǒ de shǒu), meaning 'I need to stretch out my hand.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 伸
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 伸 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 伸 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 伸
伸 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 3 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.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
我走到镜子前面____出舌头。
I walked over to the mirror and stuck my tongue out.
Common Confusions with 伸
伸vs深
shēn
Same pronunciation but different meanings.
伸vs申
shēn
Same pronunciation but different meanings.
伸 means to stretch, while 伸展 refers specifically to the act of stretching out or extending more broadly.
1
她在做伸展运动。
伸 means to stretch, while 伸展 refers specifically to the act of stretching out or extending more broadly.
💡Think of 伸 as a specific stretch and 伸展 as a more general action.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to stretch"?
or
Example Sentences for 伸 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我走到镜子前面伸出舌头。
wǒ zǒu dào jìng zǐ qián miàn shēn chū shé tóu。
I walked over to the mirror and stuck my tongue out.
2
我把手伸到桌子的另一边，捏住他的手。
wǒ bǎ shǒu shēn dào zhuō zǐ de lìng yī biān， ， niē zhù tā de。
yī suō bèi ěr bǎ jiǔ bēi fàng zài zhuō shàng tā shēn shǒu kě jí de dì fāng。
Isabelle placed a wine cup on the table within his reach.
7
他伸出舌头，鼻翼扇动着。
tā shēn chū shé tóu， ， bí yì shàn dòng。
He stuck out his tongue and flared his nostrils.
8
安娜向他伸出手，两双手握在一起。
ān nà xiàng tā shēn chū shǒu， ， liǎng shuāng shǒu wò zài yī。
Anna reached out her hand to him and clasped his.
9
这些已经用伸缩杆挂好。
zhè xiē yǐ jīng yòng shēn suō gān guà hǎo。
These were hung in place with extendable rods.
10
她一靠近，那老妇人的手就猛地伸了出来。
tā yī kào jìn， ， nà lǎo fù rén de shǒu jiù měng dì shēn le chū。
As soon as she got close, the old woman's hand shot out.
Cultural Notes for 伸
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of stretching or extending can also signify hospitality or friendship, as in extending a hand to welcome guests. This reflects the importance of relationships and support in social interactions.
Word Family of 伸
Compounds1
敒
Words Containing This Character19
伸shēnto stretch
伸出to extend
延伸yánshēnto extend
伸手shēnshǒu(fig.) to beg
伸展stretching
伸张shēnzhāngto promote伸張
伸直to straighten
伸缩shēnsuōflexible伸縮
伸长to stretch伸長
拉伸to draw
能屈能伸flexible
伸懒腰to stretch oneself (on waking or when tired etc)伸懶腰
伸手不见五指pitch-dark (idiom)伸手不見五指
伸开to stretch out伸開
伸冤to right wrongs
伸缩性flexibility伸縮性
伸延to extend
能伸能屈flexible
伸雪to right a wrong
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 伸 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 伸
You can say '我想伸展我的身体' (Wǒ xiǎng shēnzhǎn wǒ de shēntǐ), meaning 'I want to stretch my body.'
No, 伸 can also describe extending help or trust in a metaphorical sense.
Common phrases include 伸出援手 (shēnchū yuánshǒu, to extend a helping hand) and 伸展运动 (shēnzhǎn yùndòng, stretching exercises).
