世 shì world
world; generation; era
How it came to be
Three strokes in a row with the tails pulled out sideways: thirty, with the ends extended. Thirty years is a generation, and all the generations alive at once make up the world.
How it is used
- Means "generation/era" and "the world." 世界 (shìjiè) world and 世纪 (shìjì) century are the two must-know compounds.
- 去世 (qùshì) = to pass away, a neutral-polite way to say someone died - softer than 死 (sǐ).
- 世故 (shìgù, note the tone shift) = worldly-wise/sophisticated in dealing with people, often mildly negative.
Characters built with 世
Words with 世
- 世界shìjièworldHSK 3
- 世纪shìjìcenturyHSK 4
- 去世qùshìto pass awayHSK 5
- 世人shìrénpeople (in general)HSK 7
- 世故shìgùthe ways of the worldHSK 7
- 世间shìjiānworldHSK 7
- 后世hòushìlater generationsHSK 7
- 家世jiāshìfamily backgroundHSK 7
- 问世wènshìto be publishedHSK 7
- 世代shìdàifor many generationsHSK 8
- 举世瞩目jǔshì-zhǔmùto receive worldwide attentionHSK 8
- 逝世shìshìto pass awayHSK 9
Example sentences
- 这是世界地图。 Zhè shì shìjiè dìtú.This is a map of the world.
- 奶奶两年前去世了。 Nǎinai liǎng nián qián qùshì le.My grandmother died two years ago.
- 他们在研究世界地图。 Tāmen zài yánjiū shìjiè dìtú.They're studying the world map.
- 世界真大呀！ Shìjiè zhēn dà ya!The world is really big!