How to Write 柿 (shì) — Meaning “persimmon”

Picture a tree (木) in a busy market (市) where people sell bright orange persimmons. The right part 市 looks like a persimmon with a small stem at the top. This image connects the tree and market to help you remember the character.

Write the left radical 木 first, then the right part 市. Pay attention that the vertical stroke in 市 goes down through the top horizontal line, and the bottom part forms a small box. A common mistake is making the right side too wide or forgetting the dot at the top.

柿 differs from 杆 (gān, pole) and 杈 (chà, fork) in its right component: 柿 has 市 (market) with a top dot, while 杆 has 干 (dry) and 杈 has 叉 (fork). Also, 柿 refers specifically to the persimmon fruit, while 杆 means a rod or pole and 杈 means a tree branch or fork.

柿 appears in common words like 柿子 (persimmon) and 西红柿 (tomato, literally "western persimmon"). Dried persimmons (柿饼) are a traditional treat with a sweet, chewy texture. In Chinese culture, persimmons symbolize good luck and are often given as gifts during the New Year.

Common words containing 柿 include: 柿子 (shì zi) — persimmon; 西红柿 (xī hóng shì) — Tomato; 柿饼 (shì bǐng) — dried persimmon.