士 · shì

scholar; gentleman

Radical pronunciation

Radical summary

#33

Kangxi

3

Strokes

#29

Frequency

Visual hint

An upright scholar figure: top horizontal, middle vertical, and a longer bottom horizontal.

Suggests a person of status, scholar, official, or warrior.

varies

Trace the radical, simplified, traditional, and variant forms when available.

士

2 examples

志

zhì

ambition; will; to remember

HSK 4

喜

xǐ

happy; joyful

HSK 3

Scholar/official radical. Found in 志 (ambition), 喜 (happy), 声 (sound).

A scholar standing tall with a sword: the bottom stroke is a firm footing, head held high.

土: 士 has a shorter top horizontal; 土 has a longer bottom horizontal — they are reversed.

What radical is this: 士?