How to Write 矧 (shěn) — Meaning “Moreover; how much more.”

Imagine an archer (矢) shooting an arrow, and the arrow flies beyond its target, hitting a second target further away. This image of going "even further" helps recall the meaning "moreover" or "how much more." The arrow (矢) also reminds you of the radical.

The left radical 矢 must be written with the final stroke as a downward diagonal rather than a hook, and it is slightly narrower than the right part. The right side consists of a horizontal stroke followed by a vertical line and a long downward stroke; be careful not to confuse its shape with 引 (bow) or to make the right side too wide. The overall balance is key—write the left compact and the right slightly taller.

Unlike 矣 (yǐ, a classical particle meaning "already") and 知 (zhī, meaning "to know"), 矧 always means "moreover" or "how much more" and is used only in formal or literary contexts. Visually, 矧 has the arrow radical 矢 on the left, while 矣 has its own structure with a different right component, and 知 uses 口 (mouth) on the right instead. The pronunciation also differs: 矧 is shěn, while 矣 is yǐ and 知 is zhī.

矧 is rarely used in everyday spoken Chinese and appears mostly in classical or formal written texts, such as in ancient proverbs or scholarly articles. It often pairs with other words like 矧且 or 况矧 to mean "furthermore" or "not to mention." Learners may encounter it in literary Chinese but should avoid using it in casual conversation, as it sounds very archaic.

Common words containing 矧 include: 矧且 (shěn qiě) — Moreover; furthermore.; 况矧 (kuàng shěn) — moreover; furthermore; 矧亦 (shěn yì) — Furthermore; also..