HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 贝, rank #4627, Very Hard
赐
cì
to confer
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 贝, rank #4627, Very Hard
赐
cì
to bestow
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 贝, rank #4627, Very Hard
赐
cì
to grant
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 贝, rank #4627, Very Hard
cì(ci4) T4
1to give; to bestow a favor; to appoint
2to confer
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March 24, 2026
赐(賜)cì(ci4)
赐 (cì) means to give or bestow, often in a formal or honorable context. It is commonly used to refer to the granting of favors, titles, or gifts, especially by someone of higher status to someone of lower status, reflecting a hierarchical relationship in traditional Chinese society.
Strokes12Radical贝Frequency#4627DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, 赐 reflects the Confucian values of respect and hierarchy, often used in imperial decrees or during ceremonies where a ruler bestows titles or gifts to subjects, illustrating the importance of social structure.
Memory Tip
Imagine a royal figure bestowing a rare treasure (the character 赐 looks like a treasure chest with the top partially opened). The top part resembles a hand reaching out, symbolizing the act of giving. The pronunciation 'cì' sounds like 'see', as in 'see the treasure being given'.
Meanings of 赐
cì(ci4)
1to give; to bestow a favor; to appoint
2to confer
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 赐
赐Simplified
賜Traditional
12Strokes
贝Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 赐
Podcast: 赐
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AI Study Notes for 赐
Quick Contrast
授 (shòu) - use 赐 (cì) when emphasizing a formal bestowal from a higher status to a lower status, while 授 (shòu) can imply a more neutral giving or handing over.
Usage Notes
赐 is often used in formal contexts, such as in historical texts or official speeches. A common mistake is to confuse it with 给 (gěi), which is more casual; 赐 implies a sense of honor. Be careful with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
While 赐 is not included in the HSK levels, it enriches vocabulary for learners interested in classical literature or formal language. Students should focus on understanding its usage in the context of hierarchy and honorifics, which is a common theme in Chinese language and culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 赐 in informal settings, saying '我赐你这个礼物' (Wǒ cì nǐ zhège lǐwù) instead of the more appropriate '我给你这个礼物' (Wǒ gěi nǐ zhège lǐwù). Additionally, they might confuse it with similar-sounding words, leading to incorrect usage.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 赐
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Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 易 represents the sound. Simplified form of 賜.
1The meaning half贝 carries the sense.
2The sound half易 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymoney
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 赐? 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 赐?
Decomposition of 赐
IDS Structure⿰贝易
赐Full Character
=
贝Bei4
left
易Yi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 赐?
How to say to give; to bestow a favor; to appoint in Chinese
“to give; to bestow a favor; to appoint” in Chinese is赐cì
赐 (cì) means to give or bestow, often in a formal or honorable context. It is commonly used to refer to the granting of favors, titles, or gifts, especially by someone of higher status to someone of lower status, reflecting a hierarchical relationship in traditional Chinese society.
When to use 赐
赐 is often used in formal contexts, such as in historical texts or official speeches. A common mistake is to confuse it with 给 (gěi), which is more casual; 赐 implies a sense of honor. Be careful with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can change the meaning entirely.
赐 or something close to it
授 (shòu) - use 赐 (cì) when emphasizing a formal bestowal from a higher status to a lower status, while 授 (shòu) can imply a more neutral giving or handing over.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 赐 in informal settings, saying '我赐你这个礼物' (Wǒ cì nǐ zhège lǐwù) instead of the more appropriate '我给你这个礼物' (Wǒ gěi nǐ zhège lǐwù). Additionally, they might confuse it with similar-sounding words, leading to incorrect usage.
Write 赐
赐
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Practice writing 赐 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 赐
赐 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.
