十
shí
- Pinyin
- shí
- Pinyin (Plain)
- shi
- Tone
- 2
- Strokes
- 2
- Radical
- 十
- Readings
- shíshiTone: 2ten; 10Order: 0Primary
- Stroke Order Code
- Speed
- Stroke Order Data
- ["M 541 450 Q 754 474 901 462 Q 935 462 940 467 Q 949 482 935 494 Q 862 560 793 538 Q 745 529 542 499 L 482 492 Q 355 479 290 469 Q 218 457 112 455 Q 97 455 96 443 Q 95 430 116 414 Q 134 401 168 388 Q 180 384 199 393 Q 215 399 292 413 Q 377 434 482 444 L 541 450 Z", "M 482 444 Q 482 240 478 171 Q 475 -6 495 -40 Q 511 -56 521 -34 Q 539 21 540 425 Q 540 438 541 450 L 542 499 Q 543 722 569 763 Q 576 781 555 798 Q 528 819 482 830 Q 461 836 447 821 Q 437 812 450 799 Q 480 774 482 739 Q 482 651 482 492 L 482 444 Z"]
- Meaning
- In modern Chinese, the character **“十”** mainly means the **number ten (10)**. It can also appear as a component in larger numbers (like 十二 “twelve”) or in set phrases to mean “many” or “all,” but its core meaning is simply **ten**.
- Metadata
- Locale: enCached At: 3/24/2026, 5:23:46 PM
Usage
The character **“十” (shí)** most commonly means **“ten”**, the number 10. Learners first encounter it as one of the basic numerals (一, 二, 三, …, 十) and as a building block in counting and dates. It appears in numbers like 十一 (11), 十二 (12), 二十 (20), 三十 (30), etc., and in expressions such as 十个苹果 (“ten apples”) or 十月 (“October,” literally “the tenth month”). It’s also part of everyday time and age expressions, for example 他十岁 (“He is ten years old”). Beyond simple counting, “十” is used in **set phrases and general expressions meaning “many” or “complete”**. Common patterns learners see include 十分 (“very,” “extremely,” e.g. 十分高兴 “very happy”), 十分钟 (“ten minutes”), and 十字路口 (“crossroads; intersection,” literally “a cross-shaped road junction,” from the shape of 十). It also appears in idioms suggesting totality or perfection, like 十全十美 (“perfect in every way”). In handwriting and calligraphy, learners also notice that 十 is a basic **stroke pattern** (a vertical and a horizontal line crossing), so it is often used to teach stroke order and structure.
Handwriting Notes
In handwriting, 十 is a very simple cross shape: a horizontal line with a vertical line passing through (or slightly below) its center. The horizontal is usually written a bit shorter than the vertical, and in neat handwriting the lines meet at close to a right angle, giving a balanced, plus-sign-like form. On paper, people often make the vertical line extend slightly above and below the horizontal to keep the character from looking like just a short “dash with a tick.” Handwritten forms can vary in thickness, angle, and how precisely the lines intersect. The horizontal line may be slightly curved or slanted, and the vertical line may not hit the exact middle—some writers place it a bit left or right. The ends of the strokes might taper, hook slightly, or be rounded depending on pen type and personal style. Despite these variations, as long as there is a clear crossing of one horizontal and one vertical line in a roughly symmetric way, it is usually recognizable as 十. Modern AI handwriting recognition systems are trained on many such variations, allowing them to accurately recognize 十 even when the lines are uneven, slightly tilted, or loosely drawn on touchscreens and digital devices.
Description
“十” is a common Chinese character meaning “ten.” It is used both as the standalone number 10 and within larger numbers (e.g., 十二 “twelve”). In Mandarin it is pronounced shí (second tone).
Common Words
- 十shi2ten
- 十分shi2 fen1very
- 五十wu3 shi2fifty
- 六十liu4 shi2sixty
- 十足shi2 zu2ample
Example Sentences
我喜欢十。
wo3 xi3 huan5 shi2
I like ten.
十分很常见。
shi2 fen1 hen3 chang2 jian4
十分 is very common.
我们在学习五十。
wo3 men5 zai4 xue2 xi2 wu3 shi2
We are learning fifty.
这个六十很重要。
zhe4 ge5 liu4 shi2 hen3 zhong4 yao4
This sixty is important.
请写一下“十”。
qing3 xie3 yi1 xia4 shi2
Please write '十'.