氏 shì clan
clan; family
How it came to be
A single curved shape with a stroke across it, and readings disagree: a blade, a ladle, a root hanging off a stem. What is certain is that it named a branch of a family first.
How it is used
- 'Clan name, surname' - 姓氏 (xìngshì) = surname/family name.
- Used after a surname to refer to a family or a married woman: 张氏 (Zhāng shì) the Zhang family / Mrs. née Zhang.
- Also names measurement scales after their inventors: 摄氏 (shèshì) Celsius, 华氏 (huáshì) Fahrenheit.