什 Stroke Order — How to Write 什
什 is written in 4 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 亻, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
什 Radical and Character Components
什 is an ideographic compound. A file of ten 十 people 亻.
Radical: 亻 + 2 more strokes
什 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- shí
- shén
Meanings of 什 in Chinese
1
shí什
Used to denote 'ten' (shí), often in fractions, multiples, or idiomatic expressions like '什袭珍藏' (to treasure something immensely).
这本古籍被博物馆什袭珍藏。
This ancient book is treasured immensely by the museum.
various; diverse; assorted (often used in compounds like '什锦' referring to mixed items or '什物' for miscellaneous articles)
这盘什锦炒饭看起来真好吃。
This plate of assorted fried rice looks really delicious.
Used in classical Chinese literature, referring to a piece, section, or collection, especially of poems or literary works; similar to 'collection of poems' (篇什) or 'elegant works' (雅什).
这本诗集收录了许多名家的佳什，值得细细品味
This collection of poems includes many excellent pieces by renowned masters, worth savoring slowly.
2
shén什
Used as an interrogative pronoun (what?), to refer to indefinite things, or to express surprise/disbelief.
你有什么计划吗?
Do you have any plans?
Common Words and Phrases with 什
1
Shíjiànr refers to (1) giblets, the edible internal organs of poultry (e.g., gizzard, liver, heart); or (2) decorative metal fixtures or ornaments on items such as furniture or carriages.
妈妈把鸡的什件儿拿出来，准备做一道美味的卤味。
My mom took out the chicken giblets, preparing to make a delicious braised dish.
2
Assorted; consisting of various ingredients or types.
我们点了什锦拼盘，里面有各种美味的小吃。
We ordered the assorted platter, which contained a variety of delicious snacks.
3
Primarily 'what' (interrogative pronoun). It can also mean 'something', 'anything', 'whatever', or be used to express surprise.
你今天想吃什么？
What do you want to eat today?
4
Used at the end of a list or phrase to mean 'and so on', 'and the like', or 'and what not', indicating similar items or actions.
周末我通常会去公园散步、喝咖啡、看书什么的
On weekends, I usually go for a walk in the park, drink coffee, read books, and so on.
5
Who; what kind of person.
他竟然做出这种事，真不知道他是什么人
He actually did something like this, I really don't know what kind of person he is.
6
7
What's the matter? What is it? (Used to ask what happened or what someone wants.)
你看起来心事重重，发生了什么事？
You look troubled, what's going on?
8
What do you mean?
你突然跑过来，还一脸严肃，到底什么意思？
You suddenly ran over, and with such a serious expression, what exactly do you mean?
9
household wares; household utensils or articles
老旧的阁楼里堆满了祖辈传下来的各种什器，每一件都承载着家族的记忆。
The old attic was filled with various implements and articles passed down from ancestors, each carrying the family's memories.
10
sundries; odds and ends; various articles for daily use
她将家中不用的什物整理出来，准备捐赠给有需要的人
She sorted out the unused miscellaneous articles in her home, preparing to donate them to those in need.
11
To wrap something in many layers, especially for careful preservation or treasuring.
这本书是他最珍爱的收藏，什袭以藏，轻易不示人
This book is his most cherished collection; he stores it with utmost care, rarely showing it to others.
More words with 什
- tǎ塔shí什gàn干Tashkent
- piān篇shí什poems; poetry; verse
- lāo捞shí什zǐ子junk, trash
- shí什fāng邡Shifang
- shén什mo麽what
- kè克shí什mí米ěr尔Kashmir
- shén什me么yě也nothing, anything
- wèi为shén什me么why
- méi没shén什me么It's nothing, Nothing
- shén什me么dōu都anything, everything
- shén什me么yàng样What kind of, What... like
- zuò做shén什me么What to do, What for
- jiā佳shí什Goodies, Fine items
- shén什me么dōng东xi西What?, What is it?
- shén什me么huà话What are you talking about?, What do you mean?
- shuō说shén什me么What did you say?, What are you saying?
- yǒu有shén什me么What is there?, What's wrong?
- fā发shēng生shén什me么What happened?, What's happening?
- méi没yǒu有shén什me么Nothing, Nothing much
- shén什me么dōu都xíng行Anything is fine, Anything works
Idioms with 什
- shí什wéi围wǔ伍gōng攻Overwhelm enemy with superior force
- shí什xí袭yǐ以cáng藏treasure and store with extreme care
- shí什xí袭zhēn珍cáng藏Store away something precious with great care
- dào到shén什me么shān山shàng上chàng唱shén什me么gē歌adapt to different situations
- shí什wǔ伍dōng东xī西scattered and jumbled
- shí什xí袭ér而cáng藏to meticulously preserve something valuable
- shén什yī一zhī之lì利a modest ten percent profit
- láo牢shí什gǔ古zi子annoying old junk
- láo劳shí什zi子a troublesome nuisance or insignificant thing
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Open the tool →Questions about 什
What does 什 mean in Chinese?
什 (shí) means “Used to denote 'ten' (shí)” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 什?
什 has 2 pronunciations: shí, shén.
How many strokes does 什 have?
什 has 4 strokes.
How do you write 什?
什 is written in 4 strokes, starting from the radical 亻. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 什?
The radical of 什 is 亻, and 什 is an ideographic compound.