Learn a Chinese Character - 始 (Shǐ) - Begin/Start

1. 基本特征 (Character Basics)

部首: 女（女字旁） (radical: woman)

笔画数: 8 (8 strokes)

结构分解: 形声字，从女（与女性、初始相关）、台（tái，表音），本义指开始（如"起始"） (ideogram with "女" (woman) as radical and "台" indicating pronunciation, originally meaning begin (e.g., "start"))

笔顺:

2. 发音 (Pronunciation)

拼音: Shǐ (third tone)

3. 含义 (Meaning)

始作动词时指开始（如"开始学习"）；作副词时指始终（如"始终如一"） (Verb: begin (e.g., "start learning"); Adverb: always (e.g., "consistent from start to end"))

4. 常用词汇 (Common Words)

• 开始 (kāi shǐ) - start
• 始终 (shǐ zhōng) - from beginning to end
• 初始 (chū shǐ) - initial
• 始末 (shǐ mò) - beginning and end

5. 语法与用法 (Grammar & Usage)

作动词时接宾语（如"开始计划"）；作副词修饰动词（如"始终坚持"）；常与"开""终"等词搭配（如"开始""始终"） (Verb: followed by object (e.g., "start planning"); Adverb: modifies verbs (e.g., "always persist"); often paired with "开/终" (e.g., "start/from beginning to end"))

6. 文化背景 (Cultural Background)

中国文化强调"慎始"（谨慎对待开始），如《礼记》"慎始而敬终"，认为好的开端是成功的基础；"始终"体现对过程完整性的重视（如"善始善终"） (Chinese culture emphasizes "慎始" (prudence at the beginning), e.g., "Be cautious at the start and respectful till the end" from The Book of Rites, viewing a good beginning as the foundation of success. "始终" reflects the value of process completeness (e.g., "start well and end well"))

7. 例句 (Example Sentence)

8. 记忆技巧 (Memory Tips)

"始"由"女"（女性）和"台"组成，想象古代女子开始操持家务的场景，通过"女+台=开始"的画面轻松记住"始"的含义 ("始" is composed of "女" (woman) and "台". Imagine an ancient woman starting to manage household chores, associating "woman + platform" to remember the meaning of "始")