詞 (cí) - Meaning, Stroke Order & Audio

詞

cí[ci2]Tone 2

word

HSK 2

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词

Guru Deep Dive

English · word

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Topology:Left-right

Strokes:7

Writing Balance Rule: The left component (speech radical 讠) should be compact and narrower, leaving ample space for the right component (司) to maintain balanced symmetry.

Simplification Logic: The traditional left component 言 (speech) was simplified into the cursive radical shorthand 讠.

1. Meaning

word, term, speech

statementlyricsci poetry (a classical Chinese poetic form)

NounNeutral#language#literature#communication

Sample Usage

这个词是什么意思？
zhè ge cí shì shén me yì si?
What is the meaning of this word?
这首歌的歌词很美。
zhè shǒu gē de gē cí hěn měi.
The lyrics of this song are very beautiful.

2. Sound

/[tsʰi³⁵]/Tone: 35

詞

cíci2

´(35)

=cí

Initial Consonant

Type: Aspirated Dental Sibilant

Sounds like: ts sound with a sharp puff of air

Aspirated

Airflow Tactile Test: Sharp burst of air through teeth! Tissue MUST flutter strongly.

Tongue & Mouth Position: Tongue tip placed lightly against the back of the lower teeth, releasing air briskly

Final Rhyme

i (-i*)

Vowel Group: -a vowel group

Sounds like: ee sound as in 'see'

Note: Written as 'i (-i*)', pronounced as rounded 'i' [y].

Mouth Shape Guide: Combine initial 'zh-' (jr) with final '-i' (rr/zz).

Common Learner Trap: Do NOT pronounce '-i' as 'ee' after zh-! Keep your tongue in the consonant position and buzz 'rr/zz'.

Tone

T2 (35)

3 → 5 (35)

2nd Tone (Mid-Rising)

Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 2 rises like a surprised question in English (e.g., 'What?!'), starting mid-pitch and shooting upward.

Sandhi: When followed by another Tone 2, the tone starts slightly lower but still rises to the top.

👂

Listening trap: Confusing the aspirated initial 'c' [tsʰ] with the unaspirated 'z' [ts]. Make sure there is a distinct puff of air.

👋

Physical Tone Gesture: A rising hand sweep moving upwards from chest level to eye level, matching the questioning pitch rise.

3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 7 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left component (speech radical 讠) should be compact and narrower, leaving ample space for the right component (司) to maintain balanced symmetry.

Simplification Logic: The traditional left component 言 (speech) was simplified into the cursive radical shorthand 讠.

4. Components

Radical 讠 · Speech radical (Language, talking, words)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 讠 (Indicates that the character relates to language, speech, or words.)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 司 (original sound: si)

Combining the speech radical (讠) on the left with the phonetic component meaning 'to manage or control' (司) on the right creates the concept of 'managed words' or organized speech — a word.

讠 Speech / Language (semantic clue)
司 To manage / To take charge (phonetic clue)

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

9· Phonetic Root: 司 (sī)

5. History

Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally formed by combining the speech radical with 司 to give both a phonetic hint and a semantic anchor relating to spoken or written terms.

Semantic Evolution: Originally meaning a statement or speech, it expanded to mean individual words, song lyrics, and eventually the classical Song dynasty lyric poetry genre known as 'Ci' poetry.

The 'Ci' poetry form reached its golden age during the Song Dynasty.
In modern Chinese, it serves as the foundational noun for vocabulary items.

6. Sinosphere

🇯🇵

Kanji (Japanese)

On: シ / Kun: ことば

🇰🇷

Hanja (Korean)

사

7. Memory

Vivid Mnemonic Story

You use your **SPEECH** radical (讠) to **MANAGE** (司) your vocabulary every single day when learning new **WORDS** (cí).

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

词

cíwordBase form with speech radical

饲

sìto feed (animals)Replaces speech radical with the food/eat radical (饣)

司

sīto manage / departmentWithout any radical attached

Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)

次(cì)

次 uses two dots (冫 ice radical) on the left, whereas 词 uses the speech radical (讠).

8. Mastery

Active Recall Challenge

請問這個[___]是什麼意思？

Clue: cí

Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the tone with Tone 4 (cì) or misspelling the phonetic right side by confusing it with similar looking characters.

Memory Prompts

Recognition: When you see 词, what does it mean and how is it pronounced?

Production: How do you write the character for 'word' or 'lyrics' using the speech radical?

詞cíword

Speed:

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