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哂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
哂shěnto smile; to laugh at; to sneervg, 9 strokes, radical 口
哂shěn(literary) to smileunknown, 9 strokes, radical 口
shěn(shen3)shen T3
  1. 1to smile; to laugh at; to sneer
  2. 2(literary) to smile
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March 24, 2026

哂shěn(shen3)

The character 哂 (shěn) primarily means to smile or laugh, often with a connotation of mockery or sneering. It is used in literary contexts and can imply a more nuanced reaction than simply laughing, sometimes suggesting derision or scorn in a situation. This character can be found in classical texts and poetry, emphasizing its literary flavor.

Strokes9Radical口
Cultural note

In classical Chinese literature, characters like 哂 often appear in poetry to convey complex emotions during interactions, highlighting the Chinese appreciation for subtleties in expression and the importance of social context.

Memory tip

Imagine a person with a big smile (the smile radical) who is so amused that they can't help but sneer at someone else, adding a mischievous twist. The sound 'shěn' can be remembered as 'she's in' a playful mood, both smiling and sneering.

Meanings of 哂

shěn(shen3)
1to smile; to laugh at; to sneer
2(literary) to smile
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 哂

哂Simplified
9Strokes
口Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 哂

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AI study notes for 哂

Quick Contrast

哂 (shěn) vs 笑 (xiào) — use 哂 when implying mockery or sneering, whereas 笑 is a more general term for laughing without negative connotations.

Usage Notes

哂 is often used in literary or formal contexts rather than casual conversation. Learners might confuse it with simpler terms for laughing, such as 笑 (xiào). Be mindful of the tone; using it incorrectly in speech might lead to misunderstandings about the speaker's intent.

HSK Study Tips

Although 哂 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects with other characters related to laughter like 笑 (xiào). Students at this level should focus on understanding the nuances between different terms for laughter and smiling, noting the emotional context each brings.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 哂 with 笑 and use it inappropriately in casual contexts, such as saying 哂 in a friendly setting instead of 笑. For example, saying '我哂了' (wǒ shěn le) when they mean 'I smiled' is incorrect; it should be '我笑了' (wǒ xiào le).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 哂

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Etymology of 哂

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

mouth

Semantic (meaning)口
+
Phonetic (sound)西
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

哂 = 口 + 西. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 哂

IDS Structure⿰口西
哂Full character
=
口kou3
left
西Xi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 哂?

How to say to smile; to laugh at; to sneer in Chinese

“to smile; to laugh at; to sneer” in Chinese is哂shěn

The character 哂 (shěn) primarily means to smile or laugh, often with a connotation of mockery or sneering. It is used in literary contexts and can imply a more nuanced reaction than simply laughing, sometimes suggesting derision or scorn in a situation. This character can be found in classical texts and poetry, emphasizing its literary flavor.

When to use 哂

哂 is often used in literary or formal contexts rather than casual conversation. Learners might confuse it with simpler terms for laughing, such as 笑 (xiào). Be mindful of the tone; using it incorrectly in speech might lead to misunderstandings about the speaker's intent.

哂 or something close to it

哂 (shěn) vs 笑 (xiào) — use 哂 when implying mockery or sneering, whereas 笑 is a more general term for laughing without negative connotations.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 哂 with 笑 and use it inappropriately in casual contexts, such as saying 哂 in a friendly setting instead of 笑. For example, saying '我哂了' (wǒ shěn le) when they mean 'I smiled' is incorrect; it should be '我笑了' (wǒ xiào le).

Write 哂

哂

Practice writing 哂 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 哂

Words containing this character3
哂shěnto sneer
哂笑to laugh at
哂纳(literary) please kindly accept哂納
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 哂

What does 哂笑 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 哂

No, 哂 is more frequently found in literary texts and is not commonly used in everyday conversation.

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