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势

勢
shì
noun #6,841

Meanings

  1. 1 power; influence; momentum
  2. 2 tendency; trend
  3. 3 posture; gesture

Examples

形势很紧张。
Xíngshì hěn jǐnzhāng.
The situation is tense.
这是大趋势。
Zhè shì dà qūshì.
This is the major trend.
他做了个手势。
Tā zuò le gè shǒushì.
He made a gesture.

Tips

usage
势 is used in: 形势 (situation), 趋势 (trend), 势力 (power/influence), 手势 (gesture), 优势 (advantage), 姿势 (posture). It conveys force, direction, and momentum.

Components

radical
力 lì
strength; force
Strength radical at the bottom is the indexing component, classing 势 in the power family: 力 force, 劲 vigor, 勇 courage, 助 to aid. A grip on top of strength gives the meanings: power, momentum, the way force is currently flowing. Hence 形势 situation, 趋势 trend, 优势 advantage, 手势 gesture.
phonetic
执 zhí
to grasp; hold
Top is 执 'to grasp', supplying the sound — zhí drifting to shì in this character (regular zh/sh alternation). 执 also leaks meaning: a hand holding firm. The pre-simplification form 勢 had 埶 (planting) on top, replaced in the reform with 执. Either way the top conveys 'firm grip' — power held in a steady hand.

Stroke Order

势 shì