室 (shì) - room, chamber & household

室Tone 4

shì ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

上姝

室 · shì

room, chamber;

household;

office;

in ancient usage, referred to the inner chambers of a house or the imperial court.

room, chamberhouseholdoffice

Usage highlights

bedroomofficeclassroomliving roomlaboratorymeeting room

Synonyms

  • 房— room, house
  • 屋— room, house
  • 居— residence, to dwell

Antonyms

  • 外— outside, external
  • 野— wild, open field

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • This is my bedroom (卧室).
  • The meeting room (会议室) is on the second floor.
  • He works in an office (办公室).
  • The laboratory (实验室) is well-equipped.
  • The living room (客厅) is spacious.

Collocations

  • bedroom(卧室)
  • office(办公室)
  • classroom(教室)
  • living room(客厅)
  • laboratory(实验室)
  • meeting room(会议室)

Idioms

  • To ascend to the hall and enter the chamber(升堂入室)
  • The bridal chamber(洞房)
  • To be confined to the inner chamber(深居简出)
  • The imperial court(王室)
  • To be at home in every subject(无所不通)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, '室' often referred to the inner chambers of a residence, particularly the private quarters, distinguishing it from the more public '堂' (hall).
  • It was used metaphorically to denote a high level of mastery or expertise, as in the idiom '升堂入室' (to ascend to the hall and enter the chamber), meaning to attain profound knowledge.
  • Historically, '室' could also refer to the wife or the household in certain contexts, reflecting its association with the domestic sphere.

FAQ