弑 meaning and stroke order
Patricide, matricide
How to write 弑, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 弑
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to murder a superior
- to murder one's parent
How 弑 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Murder.
杀 gives the meaning and 式 hints at the sound.
Radical: 弋 (to catch), shared by 6 characters on this site.
How to remember 弑
弑 combines 杀 (shā, to kill) on the left with 式 (shì) on the right, which gives the sound. Think of it as killing that breaks the proper order, 式 being a form or rule, so it means killing someone above you.
弑 is a formal, literary word used for killing a ruler, a parent, or another superior. You see it mostly in history writing, classical texts, and dramatic fiction. Example: 他弑君篡位。(Tā shìjūn cuànwèi.) He killed the king and seized the throne.
Common mistake: Learners often write the left side as 刹 or forget that the left part is the shortened 杀 without its final stroke changes, and they mix up the right side 式 with 试 (shì, to try). Also, do not use 弑 for ordinary murder; for that use 杀 (shā) or 谋杀 (móushā).
Common words with 弑
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 弑君 | shìjūn | regicide; to commit regicide |
Questions about 弑
How many strokes are in 弑?
弑 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 弑 mean?
弑 (shì) means patricide, matricide. A common word with it is 弑君 (shìjūn), meaning "regicide; to commit regicide".
How do you pronounce 弑?
弑 is pronounced shì, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 弑?
The radical of 弑 is 弋, which carries the idea of "to catch". Dictionaries list 弑 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 弑?
The traditional form of 弑 is 弒. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 弑 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 弑 and 杀?
杀 (shā) is the general word for kill and works for anyone or anything. 弑 (shì) is only for killing someone of higher status, such as a ruler or one's parent, and it carries a strong moral judgment.
Can 弑 be used in modern Chinese?
Yes, but mostly in set phrases like 弑君 (shìjūn) and 弑父 (shìfù, to kill one's father), or in news, games, and novels for dramatic effect. In everyday speech people rarely say it.