shí · stone
nature
💡 How to pronounce

sh → like the 'sh' in 'shirt' with tongue curled back. í → like 'ee' with a rising tone.

📖 The Story

The oracle bone script shows a cliff with a stone underneath — a clear image of rocks beneath a mountain ledge. Stone represents strength and permanence.

🎬 In Culture Today

In Chinese gardens, stones are not just rocks — they are sculptures of nature. The art of stone appreciation has been a scholarly pursuit for over a thousand years.

📚 Words

shí toustone
bǎo shígemstone
huà shífossil

📝 Example Sentences

这块石头很重。

Zhè kuài shítou hěn zhòng.

This stone is very heavy.

中国的玉石很有名。

Zhōngguó de yùshí hěn yǒumíng.

Chinese jade is very famous.