伺

cì, sì

亻 + 司

Definitions

sì (verb) to watch; to spy

cì (verb) to wait on; to serve

Etymology

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

Semantic: 亻 Phonetic: 司

About

The character 伺 combines the radical 亻, derived from 人 (person), with the phonetic component 司. This structure marks it as a phono-semantic compound, where the left side suggests human action and the right side supplies the sound. In classical usage, 伺 meant to attend upon or serve a superior. Over centuries, the meaning expanded to include watching, spying, or observing covertly, and today it often carries a negative or cautious connotation.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

妈妈在伺候奶奶吃饭。

Māmā zài cìhou nǎinai chīfàn.

Mom is serving grandma a meal.

他耐心地伺候着老人。

Tā nàixīn de cìhou zhe lǎorén.

He patiently serves the elderly.

小猫伺机捕捉老鼠。

Xiǎo māo sìjī bǔzhuō lǎoshǔ.

The kitten watches for an opportunity to catch the mouse.

服务员伺机为客人添水。

Fúwùyuán sìjī wèi kèrén tiān shuǐ.

The waiter watches for an opportunity to refill water for guests.

她悉心伺候生病的丈夫。

Tā xīxīn cìhou shēngbìng de zhàngfu.

She meticulously serves her sick husband.

投资者伺机进入市场。

Tóuzīzhě sìjī jìnrù shìchǎng.

Investors watch for an opportunity to enter the market.

他暗中伺察敌人的动向。

Tā ànzhōng sìchá dírén de dòngxiàng.

He secretly watches the enemy's movements.

间谍伺机窃取机密文件。

Jiàndié sìjī qièqǔ jīmì wénjiàn.

The spy watches for an opportunity to steal confidential documents.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

Component: 司

伺