湿

wet, moist, humid, damp

JLPT N1 12 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character 湿 (shī) primarily describes something that is wet, moist, or humid. It is commonly used to talk about physical dampness, such as wet clothes, surfaces, or weather conditions.

Common Collocations

  • 湿衣服 (shī yīfu): wet clothes, often used when talking about drying or laundry.
  • 空气湿 (kōngqì shī): humid air, describing weather or indoor conditions.
  • 地面湿 (dìmiàn shī): wet ground, often after rain.

Usage Notes

湿 is often used as an adjective before nouns or as a predicate adjective after verbs like (to be). It conveys a neutral descriptive tone and is common in both spoken and written Chinese. Avoid confusing 湿 with (cháo), which also means damp but often implies a colder or clammy feeling.

Practical Tips

When using 湿, think about tangible moisture or humidity. It is less abstract than related words like and more direct in describing wetness. For example, 湿衣服 clearly means clothes that are wet, not just damp or humid in a general sense.

Example Sentences

It's raining outside, the ground is very wet.

Wet clothes need to be dried, otherwise they will mold.

The air is very humid this season, it feels uncomfortable.