Definitions

shí (noun) rock; stone

Etymology

Pictograph of a musical stone chime. The component was added later as a meaningless decorative mark.

About

The character "石" for stone is structurally composed of "厂" and "口", with the former historically representing a cliff and the latter a stone, reflecting an etymological conception of a rock formation. Initially denoting hard mineral substance, its semantic scope expanded over time to encompass precious stones like jade, a traditional unit of capacity for dry goods, and its use as a surname.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 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 Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

地上有一块头。

Dì shàng yǒu yī kuài shí tou.

There is a stone on the ground.

这块头很光滑。

Zhè kuài shí tou hěn guāng huá.

This stone is very smooth.

油是现代工业的血液。

Shí yóu shì xiàn dài gōng yè de xuè yè.

Petroleum is the blood of modern industry.

是世界上最硬的物质之一。

Zuàn shí shì shì jiè shàng zuì yìng de wù zhì zhī yī.

Diamond is one of the hardest substances in the world.

的种类有很多。

Yán shí de zhǒng lèi yǒu hěn duō.

There are many types of rocks.

碑上记载着历史事件。

Shí bēi shàng jì zǎi zhe lì shǐ shì jiàn.

The stone tablet records historical events.

榴是一种美味的水果。

Shí liu shì yī zhǒng měi wèi de shuǐ guǒ.

Pomegranate is a delicious fruit.

地质学家通过岩分析地球历史。

Dì zhì xué jiā tōng guò yán shí fēn xī dì qiú lì shǐ.

Geologists analyze Earth's history through rocks.