谥

諡/謚

shì

益 + 讠

Definitions

shì (bound form) posthumous name or title; (literary) to confer a posthumous name or title

shì variant of 諡|谥[shì]

Etymology phono-semantic

speech

Semantic: 讠 Phonetic: 益

About

谥, or 諡 in its traditional form, is a phono-semantic compound used for the formal bestowal of posthumous names upon royalty, nobles, and distinguished officials. Its left component, the speech radical 讠 (simplified) or 言 (traditional), connects the character to the official pronouncements made about a deceased person’s legacy. The right component, 益, provides the phonetic element; its literal meaning of “benefit” does not directly relate to the concept of a posthumous title. The character embodies the cultural practice of evaluating a person’s life to assign a concise, official epithet, an act requiring formal discussion and declaration by the state.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

古代皇帝都有谥号。

Gǔdài huángdì dōu yǒu shìhào.

Ancient emperors all have posthumous titles.

谥号是对死者的尊称。

Shìhào shì duì sǐzhě de zūnchēng.

A posthumous title is an honorific for the deceased.

大臣们商议给国王上谥号。

Dàchénmen shāngyì gěi guówáng shàng shìhào.

The ministers discussed conferring a posthumous title upon the king.

他的谥号反映了生前的功绩。

Tā de shìhào fǎnyìng le shēngqián de gōngjī.

His posthumous title reflects his achievements during his lifetime.

研究历史需要了解谥号的含义。

Yánjiū lìshǐ xūyào liǎojiě shìhào de hányì.

Studying history requires understanding the meaning of posthumous titles.

这位君主死后被追谥为文武皇帝。

Zhè wèi jūnzhǔ sǐ hòu bèi zhuī shì wéi wénwǔ huángdì.

This monarch was posthumously given the title of Emperor Wenwu after his death.

谥法的制定体现了儒家的价值观。

Shìfǎ de zhìdìng tǐxiàn le rújiā de jiàzhíguān.

The establishment of the posthumous title system reflects Confucian values.

虽然谥号通常由朝廷授予，但也有一些例外情况。

Suīrán shìhào tōngcháng yóu cháotíng shòuyǔ, dàn yě yǒu yīxiē lìwài qíngkuàng.

Although posthumous titles are usually conferred by the imperial court, there are some exceptions.

Related Characters

Component: 益

Component: 讠

谥