施 meaning and stroke order
To grant, to bestow; to act; surname
How to write 施, stroke by stroke
9 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
- 7
- 8
- 9
Meaning of 施
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (bound form) to put into effect (regulations etc)
- to distribute (alms etc)
- to apply (fertilizer etc)
How 施 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 方 (square), shared by 17 characters on this site.
How to remember 施
施 has 方 (fāng) on the left and 㐌 on the right, which looks like a person bending over beside a flag. Picture someone stepping out from under a banner to hand things out or put a plan into action.
施 rarely stands alone in modern Chinese. It appears in formal words about carrying out plans, building, or giving, such as 实施 (shíshī), 措施 (cuòshī), and 施工 (shīgōng). Example: 这里正在施工。(Zhèlǐ zhèngzài shīgōng.) Construction is underway here.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 施 with 旅 (lǚ, travel) and 族 (zú, clan), because all three start with 方 and the same short top stroke on the right. Look at the bottom right: 施 ends in 也-like strokes, while 旅 and 族 do not. Also note that 措施 (cuòshī) and 实施 (shíshī) both use the first tone, even though 实 is second tone.
Common words with 施
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 实施 | shíshī | to implement; to carry out | HSK 4 |
| 措施 | cuòshī | measure; step | HSK 4 |
| 设施 | shèshī | facilities; installation | HSK 4 |
| 施工 | shīgōng | construction; to carry out construction or large-scale repairs | HSK 7-9 |
| 施压 | shīyā | to pressure | HSK 7-9 |
| 施加 | shījiā | to exert (effort or pressure) | HSK 7-9 |
| 施行 | shīxíng | to put in place; to put into practice | HSK 7-9 |
| 施舍 | shīshě | to give in charity; to give alms (to the poor) | |
| 施展 | shīzhǎn | to use fully; to put to use | |
| 发号施令 | fāhàoshīlìng | to boss people around (idiom) | |
| 安全措施 | ānquáncuòshī | safety measure; precaution; (coll.) (euphemism) contraception; protection | |
| 无计可施 | wújìkěshī | (lit.) to have no strategy to apply (idiom); (fig.) to be out of ideas; at one's wit's end | |
| 施主 | shīzhǔ | benefactor (term used by a monk to address a layperson); donor (semiconductor) | |
| 预防措施 | yùfángcuòshī | protective step; protective measure |
施 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 施
How many strokes are in 施?
施 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 施 mean?
施 (shī) means to grant, to bestow; to act; surname. A common word with it is 实施 (shíshī), meaning "to implement; to carry out".
How do you pronounce 施?
施 is pronounced shī, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 施?
The radical of 施 is 方, which carries the idea of "square". Dictionaries list 施 under this radical.
Is 施 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 施 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 实施 and 施行?
Both mean to put something into practice. 实施 (shíshī) is the most common choice for plans, policies, and projects. 施行 (shīxíng) is more often used for laws and regulations taking effect.
Can 施 be used to mean applying fertilizer or pressure?
Yes. 施肥 (shīféi) means to apply fertilizer, and 施压 (shīyā) or 施加压力 (shījiā yālì) means to put pressure on someone. In these words 施 means to apply something to a target.