How many strokes does the Chinese character "思" (sī) have?
"思" has 9 strokes in Simplified Chinese. Its primary dictionary radical is 心, and you can animate or practice writing every stroke in order using the interactive grid on this page.
Ready · 9 strokes
Speed:
Auspicious & Poetic Naming
Name: Highly Recommended
Tattoo: Better in a Phrase
思 Thoughtful in Chinese (sī)
Dictionary Summary
思 (sī) means to think; to consider. Simplified form has 9 strokes under radical 心.
Pinyin & Tonesī (Tone 1)
Simplified / Trad.思 / 思
Radical心
Total Strokes9 strokes
StructureTop–Bottom (田 + 心)
Unicode / LevelU+601D · HSK 2
Native Naming & Tattoo Safety Review
🪪 Using “思” in a Chinese Name · Highly Recommended (Unisex)
Literary, gentle, and thoughtful (e.g., 思远, 思齐, 思语, 思源). Pairs naturally with English names starting with S or C like Sarah, Sophia, Samuel, or Sebastian.
✒️ Using “思” for a Tattoo · Better in a Phrase
In modern Chinese, 思 alone suggests 'thinking/missing'—looks much deeper in philosophical phrases like 三思 (reflect deeply) or 思齐 (aspire to excellence).
Character Etymology & CC-CEDICT Meanings
Origin & Visual Logic: Fontanelle/head (囟, written as 田) positioned directly above heart (心): thoughts uniting mind and heart.
| Traditional / Simplified | Pinyin | CC-CEDICT Definitions |
|---|---|---|
| 思 / 思 | sī | to think; to consider |
Lexical entries derived from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Make Me a Hanzi (APL / LGPL-3.0).
Common Words & Idioms Using “思”
| Chinese Word | Pinyin | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 思考 | sīkǎo | to reflect and ponder | |
| 思念 | sīniàn | to miss fondly | |
| 思源 | sīyuán | remembering one's roots |
English Names Using “思” in Our Curated Recommendations
See how native speakers pair 思 (sī) into modern Chinese names:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "思" good to use in a real Chinese name?
Rating: Highly Recommended (Unisex). Literary, gentle, and thoughtful (e.g., 思远, 思齐, 思语, 思源). Pairs naturally with English names starting with S or C like Sarah, Sophia, Samuel, or Sebastian.
Is "思" safe as a Chinese character tattoo?
Tattoo rating: Better in a Phrase. In modern Chinese, 思 alone suggests 'thinking/missing'—looks much deeper in philosophical phrases like 三思 (reflect deeply) or 思齐 (aspire to excellence).