伸

shēn

亻 + 申

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

shēn (verb) to stretch; to extend

Etymology

To extend your confidence 申 to another person 亻; 申 also provides the pronunciation

About

伸 is a phono-semantic compound combining the person radical 亻 (rén) with the component 申 (shēn), which provides both the sound and a core sense of stretching or extending. The character’s primary meaning refers to the physical act of a person stretching a limb, extending the body, or reaching out. This concept of extension was later applied to objects, meaning to straighten, lengthen, or expand them. The sense further developed into abstract domains, coming to mean the assertion of one’s rights, the seeking of justice through voicing a grievance, or the clear expression of thoughts and feelings.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他伸出了手。

Ta shen chu le shou.

He stretched out his hand.

小猫伸了个懒腰。

Xiao mao shen le ge lan yao.

The kitten stretched.

她伸展双臂。

Ta shen zhan shuang bi.

She stretched her arms.

哥哥伸手拿苹果。

Ge ge shen shou na ping guo.

Big brother reached out to take the apple.

运动员在比赛前伸展身体。

Yun dong yuan zai bi sai qian shen zhan shen ti.

The athlete stretched his body before the competition.

植物藤蔓向阳光伸展。

Zhi wu teng man xiang yang guang shen zhan.

The plant vines stretched towards the sunlight.

他伸张正义，帮助了很多人。

Ta shen zhang zheng yi, bang zhu le hen duo ren.

He upheld justice and helped many people.

在困境中，他始终伸出援手。

Zai kun jing zhong, ta shi zhong shen chu yuan shou.

In difficult times, he always extended a helping hand.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

Component: 申

伸