始(shǐ)

HSK 38 strokes

to begin

Print a 始 worksheet PDFPractice writing 始

Stroke order animation

Character information

Pinyin
shǐ
Meaning
to begin; to start; then; only then
Strokes
8
HSK level
HSK 3
Traditional
Same

Origin & structure

Where 始 comes from and how its parts fit together.

Phonetic-semantic compound⿰女台

In this compound, the meaning comes from 女 (woman); 台 supplies the sound.

One part carries the meaning, the other suggests the sound.

Made of

女nǚ台tái

Parts are arranged left to right.

How to write 始 step by step

8 strokes — each frame adds one stroke, shown in dark ink over the lighter ones.

  1. 1
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  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
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  8. 8

Words with 始

Common words using 始 — tap any character to open its stroke-order page.

shǐ始zhōng终
HSK 3

from beginning to end

Open 始终 page →
kāi开shǐ始
HSK 3

to begin; to start

Open 开始 page →
yuán原shǐ始
HSK 5

first

Open 原始 page →
chuàng创shǐ始rén人
HSK 7-9

creator; founder; initiator

Open 创始人 page →
zì自shǐ始zhì至zhōng终
HSK 7-9

from start to finish (idiom)

Open 自始至终 page →
yī伊shǐ始

outset; beginning

Open 伊始 page →
chàng倡shǐ始

to initiate

Open 倡始 page →
chū初shǐ始

initial; starting (point)

Open 初始 page →

Related characters

More HSK 3 characters

专世丰丽义乡乱争

From 始’s common words

终开原创人自至伊

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