DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

釋

简释 · 繁釋

Mandarin · pinyin shì

to explain
to release
Buddha (abbr. for 釋迦牟尼 Shì jiā móu ní)
Buddhism

Full entryShow on map

Characters in this entry

釋: Look up this written character
释: shì · interpret, elucidate; release

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

Explore the spelling

Mandarin tones

4 · shi4

Compare attested words with these syllables ↗

Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.

Connected dictionary

1character link96same-tone records1source reference

Explore word families ↗Compare pronunciations ↗Open character structure ↗

Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.

Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

釋 · find source passages ↗ · 释 · find source passages ↗

Explore Classical grammar ↗

Compare dictionary sources Rime · Wiktionary

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

jik6 · sik1

Cantonese word readings for 釋. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

character · Etymology 1

to release; to set free; to discard
to dispel; to dissolve; to clear up
to explain; to elucidate; to interpret
(Buddhism) short for 釋迦牟尼／释迦牟尼 (Shìjiāmóuní, “Shakyamuni”)
21st tetragram of the Taixuanjing; "release, freedom" (𝌚)
a surname (customarily adopted by Buddhist monks and nuns upon their ordination)

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack