Definitions

shǐ (noun) history; historical records
shǐ (noun) historian

Etymology

The characters (history), (government official), 使 (cause; use; instruct), and (matter; work; affair) are all etymologically related and all derive from the same ancient character, depicting a hand () holding a container for writing utensils.

About

The character '史' originated from early pictographic representations of a hand holding a writing implement, denoting a court historian or scribe responsible for documenting events. Over time, its form stabilized into the present configuration, which is often parsed as a combination of '口' representing a mouth or spoken account and '乂' symbolizing a tool or cross, though this structural analysis is etymologically retrospective. The semantic range of the character expanded from the person who records to the content of the records themselves, thereby acquiring the primary meaning of 'history' as the chronological narrative or study of past human affairs. This evolution in meaning, while the character's graphical form has seen little change, underscores the conceptual shift from the act of recording to the body of knowledge produced.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这本书是关于历的。

Zhè běn shū shì guānyú lìshǐ de.

This book is about history.

他正在读一本书。

Tā zhèngzài dú yī běn shǐshū.

He is reading a history book.

告诉我们很多教训。

Lìshǐ gàosù wǒmen hěn duō jiàoxùn.

History tells us many lessons.

这位学家研究古代

Zhè wèi shǐxuéjiā yánjiū gǔdàishǐ.

This historian studies ancient history.

博物馆里有很多历文物。

Bówùguǎn lǐ yǒu hěn duō lìshǐ wénwù.

There are many historical artifacts in the museum.

通过料我们可以了解过去。

Tōngguò shǐliào wǒmen kěyǐ liǎojiě guòqù.

Through historical materials, we can understand the past.

这段实被记录在官方档案中。

Zhè duàn shǐshí bèi jìlù zài guānfāng dàng'àn zhōng.

This historical fact is recorded in official archives.

研究历需要客观和分析能力。

Yánjiū lìshǐ xūyào kèguān hé fēnxī nénglì.

Studying history requires objectivity and analytical skills.