厮 (sī) - servant, footman & fellow, guy (often derogatory or familiar)

厮Tone 1

sī ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

厮 · sī

servant, footman;

fellow, guy (often derogatory or familiar);

mutual, together

servant, footmanfellow, guy (often derogatory or familiar)mutual, together

Usage highlights

servantthat guyfight hand to handmutual deceptionconfront each otherwrestle

Synonyms

  • 仆— servant
  • 役— servant, laborer
  • 家伙— guy, fellow (modern equivalent)

Antonyms

  • 主— master, host
  • 君子— gentleman, noble person

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He works as a servant (厮役).
  • That guy is really annoying (那厮).
  • They fought hand to hand (厮打).
  • The two armies confronted each other (两军相厮).

Collocations

  • servant(厮役)
  • that guy(那厮)
  • fight hand to hand(厮打)
  • mutual deception(厮瞒)
  • confront each other(相厮)
  • wrestle(厮搏)

Idioms

  • Face to face confrontation(面面厮觑)
  • Fighting at close quarters(厮厮杀杀)
  • Eye to eye confrontation(眼眼厮觑)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to menial servants or laborers in ancient China.
  • Developed derogatory connotations when used to refer to people (e.g., 那厮 - 'that guy' with negative tone).
  • Used in classical literature like Water Margin to describe rough characters.
  • Can indicate mutual action when used as a verb prefix (厮打 - to fight each other).

FAQ