示
The 示 radical
To show, deity, sacrifice
Variants: 礻
Memory hook
A stone altar laid with offerings. As a left-hand component it becomes 礻 — the meaning is nearly always worship or blessing: 礼 (rite), 祝 (to wish), 福 (fortune), 神 (god).
The 示 radical (read shì) means to show, deity, sacrifice. The HSK 3.0 data contains 17 characters and 138 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 示 radical
Study this radical's 138 words with flashcards or a quiz.
The free plan drills 15 words per radical. Upgrade to Premium
Characters with the 示 radical
17 charactersHSK 1· 2 characters
HSK 1票
ticket
视
to look at, to watch
HSK 2· 2 characters
HSK 2示
to show; to indicate
礼
gift, present
HSK 3· 4 characters
HSK 3社
agency, society
祝
to wish; to express good wishes
神
god, deity
福
good fortune; blessing; happiness
HSK 4· 1 characters
HSK 4禁
to prohibit, to forbid
HSK 6· 2 characters
HSK 6祖
ancestor; forefather
祥
auspicious; lucky
HSK 7-9· 6 characters
HSK 7-9祀
to offer sacrifice, to make offerings
祈
to pray, to entreat
祭
to offer sacrifices, to worship (ancestors/spirits)
祷
to pray
祸
disaster, calamity
禅
Chan (a school of Buddhism)
Vocabulary with the 示 radical
138 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 示 radical, ordered by HSK level.
The free plan shows 9 words per HSK level (53/138 words of this radical).
plane ticket
television, TV
television, TV set
ticket
bus ticket, train ticket
admission ticket
gift; present
to show; to indicate
to value; to attach importance to
happy; blessed
to celebrate; to mark an occasion
film and television
travel agency
to show; to indicate
TV series; television drama
television station
society
to wish; to express good wishes
invoice
wedding
to overlook, to ignore
to hint, to imply
to bless; blessing, wishes
mysterious
myth, mythology
to forbid, to prohibit
ceremony, formal ritual
to display, to exhibit
lottery ticket
directive, instruction
remind, hint
to stare, to gaze
to demonstrate, to set an example
gift, present
week
cannot help but, unable to restrain
auspicious, propitious
to vote; to cast a ballot
assembly hall, auditorium
motherland, homeland
paternal grandmother
paternal grandfather
to wish, good wishes
stock, shares
to strictly prohibit, to forbid
To publicly announce, to post publicly (information, a list, etc.)
publishing house
to present, to produce for inspection
satellite TV station
cooperative
mascot
inspiration, lesson learned
official notice, public announcement (issued by an authority to the public)
Why learn vocabulary by the 示 radical?
The 示 radical hints at the meaning to show, deity, sacrifice. When you meet an unfamiliar character carrying it, you already know part of its meaning before reaching for a dictionary — which is why learners who know their radicals move faster.
How to study: read the memory hook, skim the 17 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 138 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.