How to write (shì) — Stroke Order, Radical & Practice

shì formula, pattern, rule, style, system 6 strokes · Radical (to catch) · HSK 4 required writing character

Pronunciation & meaning

Pronounced shì.

Stroke Order & Practice

Click Animate to see the correct stroke order, then Practice to trace it yourself.

1 2 3 4 5 6
式 — 6 strokes, numbered in writing order. 笔顺图(数字为下笔顺序)。

Decomposition

breaks down into 2 components arranged as Upper-right envelops Inner. Recognizing the components makes the character easier to remember and write.

=
outer to catch
inner labor

Radical

The radical of is — meaning to catch. Radicals are the indexing components used in Chinese dictionaries; they often hint at a character's broad meaning category.

How the character is built

is an ideographic compound — its meaning is suggested by the combination of its parts rather than by sound. A craftsman using an awl 弋 and a measuring square 工.

HSK 4 Words Containing 式

fāngshì method; way; manner
每个人都有不同的生活方式。
Měi gè rén dōu yǒu bùtóng de shēnghuó fāngshì.
Everyone has a different lifestyle.
zhèngshì formal; official
他正式开始了新工作。
Tā zhèngshì kāishǐ le xīn gōngzuò.
He officially started his new job.

Seen in the Real Exams / 真题例句

appears in 16 questions across the 19 mock & official HSK 4 exams on this site. Real exam sentences using it:

看图,用“正”造句。
From Mock Exam 13 →
关于穿衣,年轻人不一定要追求名牌或者最流行的款
From Mock Exam 07 →
但是公司开会的时候,他一定会换上很正的西服,皮鞋也擦得亮亮的。
From Mock Exam 10 →

Tasks Featuring 式 / 相关任务

Words containing appear in these official HSK 4 task scenarios — study the character in context:

📚 介绍风俗传统
Customs & Traditions · 正式

FAQ

What does 式 mean in Chinese?

式 (shì) means formula, pattern, rule, style, system. It is one of the 150 characters required for the HSK 4 writing section.

How many strokes does 式 have?

式 is written in 6 strokes. Use the practice tool above to see the correct stroke order and trace it yourself.

What is the radical of 式?

The radical of 式 is 弋 (to catch).

What is the pinyin for 式?

式 is pronounced shì.

What HSK 4 words use 式?

In our HSK 4 vocabulary, 式 appears in 2 words, including 方式 (fāngshì), 正式 (zhèngshì). See the full list above.

All Characters yǔ →