How to Write 匙 (chí/shi) — Meaning “Spoon”

Picture the top part 匕 as the bowl of a spoon and the bottom 是 as the handle. Since 是 means 'is', you can think 'this IS a spoon' to remember the character.

Write the top radical 匕 first with a left stroke then a right curve. Then write 是: start with 日 (sun), then 正 (correct) with the last stroke being a downward left. A common mistake is making 匕 too large or forgetting the final stroke of 是.

汤匙 (tāng chí) means soup spoon, used when talking about dining utensils. 钥匙 (yào shi) means key, where 匙 is pronounced shi; it is used every day for locks and doors.

匙 rarely appears alone; it is almost always part of a compound like 汤匙 or 钥匙. In Chinese culture, a 汤匙 is a common eating tool for soup, and 钥匙 is essential for daily life—losing your 钥匙 is a common worry.

Common words containing 匙 include: 汤匙 (tāng chí) — Soup spoon; 钥匙 (yào shi) — Key.