Definitions

shī (noun) poem; poetry; verse
shī (noun) Book of Songs (ancient Chinese poetry collection)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character for poetry, traditionally written as "詩", is structured from the semantic component "言", meaning speech or language, paired with "寺", which initially functioned phonetically but also carried associations with formal establishments or courts, suggesting poetry's early ties to ritual and refined expression. Originally denoting a specific corpus of classical verse, particularly the canonical works collected in ancient texts, the term "诗" gradually broadened in scope to encompass the entire art of poetic creation across dynasties, evolving from a designation for ceremonial lyrics to a general category for rhythmic and imaginative literary works. Its etymological construction has remained conceptually stable, with the speech radical consistently anchoring the character in the realm of verbal artistry, while the "寺" element endures as a structural reminder of its linguistic and cultural origins.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 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 Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
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

我喜欢读歌。

Wǒ xǐhuān dú shīgē.

I like reading poetry.

这首很美。

Zhè shǒu shī hěn měi.

This poem is very beautiful.

他写了许多

Tā xiě le xǔduō shī.

He wrote many poems.

歌能表达情感。

Shīgē néng biǎodá qínggǎn.

Poetry can express emotions.

人用语言创作。

Shīrén yòng yǔyán chuàngzuò.

Poets use language to create.

现代歌形式自由。

Xiàndài shīgē xíngshì zìyóu.

Modern poetry has free form.

这首的意境深远。

Zhè shǒu shī de yìjìng shēnyuǎn.

The artistic conception of this poem is profound.

她致力于研究古典歌的韵律。

Tā zhìlì yú yánjiū gǔdiǎn shīgē de yùnlǜ.

She is dedicated to studying the rhythm of classical poetry.