思 sī — think · English

思

sī

think

At a glance · 思

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「思」从囟从心，金文象头颅与心，会心脑并用思考。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「思」本义为思考、思虑，引申思念、思想。

Structure

从囟从心，会意字，古人以心脑共主思虑，故从囟心。

At a glance

Pinyinsī

Radical心

Strokes9

UnicodeU+601D

Character type会意

Theme德行

Six languages, one character

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English think think, consider, ponder; final particle

Français penser Penser, réfléchir. «容止若思» : l'air songeur.

Español pensar Pensar, reflexionar. «容止若思»: el aire pensativo.

العربية يفكر يفكر، يتأمل. «容止若思»: الهيئة المتفكّرة.

Русский думать Думать, размышлять. «容止若思»: задумчивый вид.

Common words

思考sī kǎothink
思想sī xiǎngthought

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