誓 meaning and stroke order
To swear, to pledge; oath
How to write 誓, stroke by stroke
14 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 誓
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- oath
- vow
- to swear
- to pledge
How 誓 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Words 言 that must not be broken 折; 折 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 言 (words), shared by 155 characters on this site.
How to remember 誓
誓 puts 折 (zhé, to break) on top of 言 (yán, words). An oath is words 言 that must never be broken 折, and 折 also hints at the sound.
誓 rarely stands alone in modern speech. It usually appears in words like 发誓 (fāshì, to vow), 宣誓 (xuānshì, to take an oath) and 誓言 (shìyán, a pledge). Example: 我发誓不再迟到。(Wǒ fāshì bú zài chídào.) I swear I won't be late again.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 誓 (shì) with 逝 (shì, to pass away), which has the same sound and the same 折 part but uses the walking radical 辶 instead of 言. Remember that an oath needs words, so 誓 has 言 at the bottom.
Common words with 誓
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
誓 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 誓
How many strokes are in 誓?
誓 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 誓 mean?
誓 (shì) means to swear, to pledge; oath. A common word with it is 发誓 (fāshì), meaning "to vow; to pledge".
How do you pronounce 誓?
誓 is pronounced shì, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 誓?
The radical of 誓 is 言, which carries the idea of "words". Dictionaries list 誓 under this radical.
Is 誓 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 誓 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 发誓 and 宣誓?
发誓 (fāshì) is an everyday word for swearing or promising something, often in personal situations. 宣誓 (xuānshì) is formal and public, like taking an oath of office or a citizenship oath.
How is 誓言 different from 诺言?
Both mean a promise. 誓言 (shìyán) is a solemn vow with strong commitment, while 诺言 (nuòyán) is a more general promise you give someone.