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氏
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shì / zhī · clan, family

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

氏 has 2 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

shì

(bound form) family name; surname (as in 王氏[Wang2 shi4] "the Wang clan"); (bound form) maiden name; née (as in 李王氏[Li3 Wang2 shi4] "Mrs. Li, née Wang")

摄氏度shè shì dù · °C
zhī

used in 月氏[Yue4 zhi1]; used in 閼氏|阏氏[yan1 zhi1]

阏氏yān zhī · formal wife of a Xiongnu chief during the Han Dynasty
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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

氏
Complete decomposition unavailableThis character is currently indexed as a single visual form.
Writing notes

Shape and proportion

4Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Single-componentCharacter structure

Keep the whole form centered inside the writing square.

氏Key radical

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Vocabulary in context

Common words with 氏

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

shì(bound form) family name; surname (as in 王氏[Wang2 shi4] "the Wang clan"); (bound form) maiden name; née (as in 李王氏[Li3 Wang2 shi4] "Mrs. Li, née Wang")
zhīused in 月氏[Yue4 zhi1]; used in 閼氏|阏氏[yan1 zhi1]
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 氏 sits in each complete thought.

Nǐ de xìng shì zěn me xiě?你的姓氏怎么写？

How is your family name written?

Source: Tatoeba #5794104 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Jīn tiān qì wēn shì huá shì qī shí dù.今天气温是华氏七十度。

The temperature today is seventy degrees Fahrenheit.

Source: Tatoeba #1606074 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Jīn tiān de qì wēn shēng gāo dào shè shì sān shí dù.今天的氣溫升高到攝氏三十度。

Today, the temperature rose as high as 30 degrees Celsius.

Source: Tatoeba #779032 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Shuǐ zài shè shì líng dù shí jié bīng.水在攝氏零度時結冰。

Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.

Source: Tatoeba #899962 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Shè shì líng dù shí shuǐ huì jié bīng, duì ba?攝氏零度時水會結冰，對吧？

Water will freeze at zero Celsius, right?

Source: Tatoeba #1228994 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 氏 in context

  1. Say shì / zhī, then recall the core meaning: clan, family.
  2. Write all 4 strokes while keeping the single-component balanced.
  3. Use it in 摄氏度 (shè shì dù), meaning “°C”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 氏 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.