Read Edit View history 什 shénshí HSK1 what Origin Definitions Defs Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents Basic Details Gloss Iconic Gloss Original Meaning Hint The character is based on the original meaning "file of ten soldiers". The modern meaning "what" is a phonetic loan. Pinyin Separate values with commas shén ×shen × Add Simplified Variants Separate values with commas Add Traditional Variants Separate values with commas Add Variant Of Components Character ◎ Hint 亻 is a component form of 人. Type meaning sound iconic remnant simplified deleted distinguishing unknown Old pronunciation From original meaning Glyph changed 什 Simp strokes 什 Trad strokes Character ◎ Hint Type meaning sound iconic remnant simplified deleted distinguishing unknown Old pronunciation From original meaning Glyph changed 什 Simp strokes 什 Trad strokes + Add component Stroke Data 什 Stroke Data (Simp) — JSON { "source": "dong", "medians": [ [ [ 329, 809 ], [ 348, 793 ], [ 368, 756 ], [ 325, 671 ], [ 250, 555 ], [ 184, 469 ], [ 122, 398 ], [ 72, 356 ] ], [ [ 267, 525 ], [ 269, 496 ], [ 286, 465 ], [ 288, 410 ], [ 279, 239 ], [ 262, 94 ], [ 268, 41 ] ], [ [ 381, 437 ], [ 441, 432 ], [ 604, 465 ], [ 840, 501 ], [ 893, 496 ], [ 932, 485 ] ], [ [ 593, 823 ], [ 621, 816 ], [ 645, 797 ], [ 658, 775 ], [ 649, 572 ], [ 650, 306 ], [ 643, 79 ], [ 647, -50 ] ] ], "strokes": [ "M 266 534 Q 309 589 356 661 Q 384 712 411 735 Q 421 747 417 763 Q 413 778 381 804 Q 350 825 329 825 Q 308 824 317 798 Q 332 764 318 736 Q 278 640 216 553 Q 158 468 76 375 Q 64 363 62 356 Q 58 343 74 346 Q 119 356 223 483 Q 230 493 240 502 L 266 534 Z", "M 240 502 Q 261 433 262 403 Q 255 265 251 241 Q 244 189 229 135 Q 214 86 251 38 Q 252 35 256 32 Q 275 16 287 44 Q 302 86 302 134 Q 308 387 318 445 Q 325 473 315 484 Q 297 506 283 520 Q 276 529 266 534 C 242 552 231 531 240 502 Z", "M 676 454 Q 755 464 874 468 Q 934 468 941 479 Q 945 492 928 505 Q 865 548 817 529 Q 760 516 677 498 L 622 488 Q 511 469 384 447 Q 362 444 379 427 Q 412 400 452 409 Q 530 433 622 446 L 676 454 Z", "M 622 446 Q 622 233 618 163 Q 615 -26 636 -56 Q 651 -72 660 -50 Q 675 -14 676 454 L 677 498 Q 678 640 684 714 Q 685 748 703 778 Q 710 794 689 811 Q 664 830 619 842 Q 598 848 585 833 Q 575 824 588 812 Q 619 787 621 750 Q 622 657 622 488 L 622 446 Z" ] } 4 strokes 什 Stroke Data (Trad) — JSON { "source": "animcjk", "medians": [ [ [ 323, 821 ], [ 366, 774 ], [ 363, 737 ], [ 236, 537 ], [ 67, 353 ] ], [ [ 266, 526 ], [ 288, 407 ], [ 258, 34 ] ], [ [ 381, 439 ], [ 447, 433 ], [ 834, 500 ], [ 935, 489 ] ], [ [ 585, 826 ], [ 661, 777 ], [ 645, -58 ] ] ], "strokes": [ "M266,534Q309,589 356,661Q384,712 411,735Q421,747 417,763Q413,778 381,804Q350,825 329,825Q308,824 317,798Q332,764 318,736Q278,640 216,553Q158,468 76,375Q64,363 62,356Q58,343 74,346Q119,356 223,483Q230,493 240,502C257,523 257,523 266,534Z", "M240,502Q261,433 262,403Q255,265 251,241Q244,189 229,135Q214,86 251,38Q252,35 256,32Q275,16 287,44Q302,86 302,134Q308,387 318,445Q325,473 315,484Q297,506 283,520Q276,529 266,534C254,541 237,515 240,502Z", "M676,454Q755,464 874,468Q934,468 941,479Q945,492 928,505Q865,548 817,529Q760,516 677,498C640,491 640,491 622,488Q511,469 384,447Q362,444 379,427Q412,400 452,409Q530,433 622,446C658,451 658,451 676,454Z", "M622,446Q622,233 618,163Q615,-26 636,-56Q651,-72 660,-50Q675,-14 676,454C677,483 677,483 677,498Q678,640 684,714Q685,748 703,778Q710,794 689,811Q664,830 619,842Q598,848 585,833Q575,824 588,812Q619,787 621,750Q622,657 622,488C622,460 622,460 622,446Z" ] } 4 strokes Historical Pronunciations Source baxter-sagartzhengzhangtang Middle Chinese Old Chinese Gloss + Add historical pronunciation Sources × Quick add: 漢語多功能字庫季旭昇《說文新證》李学勤《字源》zi.toolsChinese Text Project許進雄《簡明中國文字學》 + Add source Verified Edit Comment (required) Submit Edit Note: The form works without JavaScript but the tag/list editors are simplified.