仕

shì

亻 + 士

Definitions

shì to serve as an official; an official; the two chess pieces in Chinese chess guarding the "general" or "king" 將|将[jiàng]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 士 represents the sound.

Semantic: 亻 Phonetic: 士

About

仕 is a phono-semantic compound composed of 亻 (person) on the left, indicating a human role, and 士 on the right, which provides the sound. 士 as an independent character means "scholar" or "official" and in early China referred to the class of educated gentlemen and civil servants. The character 仕 primarily means to serve as a government official, to enter public service, or to pursue a career within the state bureaucracy. It emphasizes the professional and civic duties shouldered by an educated individual in the governmental apparatus, and it captures the transition from a life of scholarship to active participation in governance and civil administration.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他决定入仕从政。

Tā juédìng rù shì cóng zhèng.

He decided to enter government service and pursue a political career.

他的仕途非常顺利。

Tā de shìtú fēi cháng shùnlì.

His official career path has been very smooth.

这幅古画描绘了唐代的仕女。

Zhè fú gǔhuà miáohuì le Táng dài de shìnǚ.

This ancient painting depicts court ladies of the Tang Dynasty.

许多古代文人都有出仕的理想。

Xǔduō gǔdài wénrén dōu yǒu chūshì de lǐxiǎng.

Many ancient scholars had the ideal of taking up an official post.

他家世代仕宦，门第显赫。

Tā jiā shìdài shìhuàn, méndì xiǎnhè.

His family has served as officials for generations, making it a prominent lineage.

他辞职下海后，再无仕进之心。

Tā cízhí xiàhǎi hòu, zài wú shìjìn zhī xīn.

After resigning to go into business, he no longer had the desire to advance in officialdom.

这位官员仕隐自如，备受尊敬。

Zhè wèi guānyuán shì yǐn zìrú, bèi shòu zūnjìng.

This official moves between public service and seclusion with ease and is highly respected.

在那种政局下，想要仕而不浊谈何容易。

Zài nà zhǒng zhèngjú xià, xiǎng yào shì ér bù zhuó tán hé róngyì.

Under that kind of political situation, wanting to serve as an official without being corrupted was no easy task.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 亻

Component: 士

仕