诗

• Pinyin: shī
• Hanzi breakdown: 诗 = 讠(speech/words) + 寺 (temple, phonetic) — words of ceremony and beauty, hence poetry

Meaning

Poem; poetry; verse. A literary composition with attention to rhythm and expression.

Central to Chinese culture, where poetry has been revered for thousands of years. Common compounds: 诗人 (poet), 古诗 (classical poetry), 诗歌 (poetry/songs), 诗词 (poetry and lyrics). Tang poetry is required study and deeply embedded in cultural life.

Examples

1. 李白是中国最有名的诗人之一。 Li Bai is one of China's most famous poets.
2. 这首诗写得非常优美。 This poem is very beautifully written.
3. 老师要求我们背诵一首唐诗。 The teacher asked us to memorise a Tang dynasty poem.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, education, culture

Tone: appreciative

Do Say

• 你会背哪些古诗？(Which classical poems can you recite?)
• 她写了一首诗送给妈妈。(She wrote a poem for her mother.)

Don't Say

• 我写了一个诗 with measure word 个 (The correct measure word for poems is 首 — say 我写了一首诗, not 一个诗)

Origin & History

Combines 讠(speech/words) and 寺 (temple/office, phonetic) — words spoken at official ceremonies, later specialised to mean poetry.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal