绅 meaning and stroke order
Girdle, tie; gentry; to bend
How to write 绅, stroke by stroke
8 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
Meaning of 绅
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- member of gentry
How 绅 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Silk.
纟 gives the meaning and 申 hints at the sound.
Radical: 纟 (silk), shared by 143 characters on this site.
How to remember 绅
The silk radical 纟 points to a silk sash, and 申 (shēn) gives the sound. Picture a gentleman tying a fine silk sash around his waist, a sign of high rank in old China.
Today 绅 almost never appears alone. You meet it mainly in 绅士 (shēnshì, gentleman) and in words about the old local elite. Example: 他很有绅士风度。(Tā hěn yǒu shēnshì fēngdù.) He has the manners of a gentleman.
Common mistake: Learners often write 伸 (shēn, to stretch) or 神 (shén, god) instead, because all three share 申. Remember that 绅 takes the silk radical 纟 for the sash, and it is first tone, not second like 神.
Common words with 绅
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 绅士 | shēnshì | gentleman | HSK 7-9 |
绅 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 绅
How many strokes are in 绅?
绅 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 绅 mean?
绅 (shēn) means girdle, tie; gentry; to bend. A common word with it is 绅士 (shēnshì), meaning "gentleman".
How do you pronounce 绅?
绅 is pronounced shēn, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 绅?
The radical of 绅 is 纟, which carries the idea of "silk". Dictionaries list 绅 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 绅?
The traditional form of 绅 is 紳. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 绅 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 绅 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 绅 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 乡绅 mean?
乡绅 (xiāngshēn) means the local gentry in a village or county in imperial China. These were often retired officials or degree holders with influence in the community.
Is 绅士 a compliment in modern Chinese?
Yes. Calling a man 绅士 or saying he has 绅士风度 praises him as polite and considerate, especially toward women. It can also be used playfully.