Definitions
(noun)
corpse
Etymology
Depicts a person with their knees bent to sit or squat.
About
The character "尸" began as a pictographic representation of a human figure in a seated or kneeling posture, originally denoting a living person who served as a ritual impersonator of an ancestor during ceremonial observances. This initial connection to a physical presence allowed the character to gradually encompass the idea of a body, both living and deceased, with its meaning eventually specializing to refer specifically to a corpse. In traditional writing, this semantic focus was made explicit through the compound form "屍", which combines the "尸" component with "死" to convey death unequivocally. While the simpler "尸" remains integral as a radical in many characters related to bodily functions or human attributes, its conceptual journey from a ritual symbol to a term for a dead body illustrates a meaningful transition without altering its foundational graphic role.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他看见了一具尸体。
尸检报告出来了。
考古学家发现了古代尸骨。
法医正在检查尸体。
火灾现场发现了几具尸体。
那具尸体已经严重腐烂。
警方通过尸检确定了死因。
由于尸体发现得晚，调查进展缓慢。