式 meaning and stroke order
Type; form; pattern
How to write 式, stroke by stroke
6 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Meaning of 式
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- type
- form
- pattern
- style
How 式 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A craftsman using an awl 弋 and a measuring square 工.
Radical: 弋 (to catch), shared by 6 characters on this site.
How to remember 式
Picture a craftsman holding an awl 弋 and a measuring square 工. With the right tools he follows a set pattern, so 式 (shì) means a form, style, or rule.
式 rarely stands alone and usually appears at the end of words for a type, method, or ceremony, such as 方式 (fāngshì) and 仪式 (yíshì). It also attaches to nouns to mean "in the style of". Example: 我喜欢中式早饭。 (Wǒ xǐhuan zhōngshì zǎofàn.) I like Chinese-style breakfast.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 式 with 试 (shì, to try), which sounds the same but adds the speech radical 讠. 考试 (kǎoshì) means exam, not 考式. Also remember the dot at the top right of 弋, which is easy to leave out.
Common words with 式
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 方式 | fāngshì | way; method; manner; mode; pattern (of behavior etc) | HSK 3 |
| 正式 | zhèngshì | formal; official | HSK 3 |
| 形式 | xíngshì | outer appearance; form | HSK 3 |
| 模式 | móshì | mode; pattern; model | HSK 5 |
| 公式 | gōngshì | formula | HSK 5 |
| 开幕式 | kāimùshì | opening ceremony | HSK 5 |
| 闭幕式 | bìmùshì | closing ceremony | HSK 5 |
| 仪式 | yíshì | ceremony | HSK 6 |
| 款式 | kuǎnshì | pattern; style | HSK 7-9 |
| 各式各样 | gèshì-gèyàng | (of) all kinds and sorts; various | HSK 7-9 |
| 格式 | géshi | form; specification | HSK 7-9 |
| 新式 | xīnshì | new style; latest type | HSK 7-9 |
| 程式 | chéngshì | form; pattern | |
| 老式 | lǎoshì | old-fashioned; old type |
式 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 式
Learning 式 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 式
How many strokes are in 式?
式 is written with 6 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 式 mean?
式 (shì) means type; form; pattern. A common word with it is 方式 (fāngshì), meaning "way; method; manner; mode; pattern (of behavior etc)".
How do you pronounce 式?
式 is pronounced shì, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 式?
The radical of 式 is 弋, which carries the idea of "to catch". Dictionaries list 式 under this radical.
Is 式 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 式 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 方式 and 方法?
方式 (fāngshì) is the way or manner something is done, like 生活方式 (lifestyle). 方法 (fāngfǎ) is a concrete method for solving a problem, like 学习方法 (study method).
How do I say "Western style" or "Japanese style" with 式?
Put a country or region word before 式: 西式 (xīshì) Western style, 日式 (rìshì) Japanese style, 中式 (zhōngshì) Chinese style. These often go before nouns, as in 日式料理 (Japanese cuisine).