unknown, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #21815, Very Hard
嗖
sōu
swishing
unknown, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #21815, Very Hard
嗖
sōu
rustle of skirts
unknown, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #21815, Very Hard
sōu(sou1) T1
1a whizzing sound
2(onom.) whooshing
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March 24, 2026
嗖sōu(sou1)
嗖 (sōu) is an onomatopoeic character that represents the sound of something swiftly moving through the air, such as a whistle or a rush of wind. It is commonly used to describe the sound made by objects like arrows or vehicles, evoking a sense of speed and suddenness in action.
Strokes12Radical口Frequency#21815DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the sound 嗖 is often used in literature and media to create vivid imagery, especially in martial arts stories where swift movements are frequent. It can also be heard in everyday life when describing fast vehicles or swift actions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a swift arrow zipping through the air, making a 'sōu' sound as it flies past. The character 嗖 resembles an arrow in motion, with its sharp edges suggesting speed, while the 'sōu' pronunciation captures the swift sound it makes.
Meanings of 嗖
sōu(sou1)
1a whizzing sound
2(onom.) whooshing
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 嗖
嗖Simplified
12Strokes
口Radical
拟声词onomatopoeia (onom.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嗖
Podcast: 嗖
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AI Study Notes for 嗖
Usage Notes
嗖 is typically used in informal contexts to describe sounds associated with speed. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings; the tone is crucial, as it is pronounced with a high level tone. Common collocations include phrases describing swift actions or movements.
HSK Study Tips
Although 嗖 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be related to other onomatopoeic words at beginner levels. Focus on associating it with movements and sounds to improve your understanding of similar characters.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 嗖 by using the wrong tone, such as saying 'sǒu' instead of 'sōu', which alters its meaning. Another common mistake is using it in formal contexts where a more standard expression would be appropriate.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嗖
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Drill the tone of 嗖 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 叟 represents the sound.
1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
2The sound half叟 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymouth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 嗖? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 嗖?
Decomposition of 嗖
IDS Structure⿰口叟
嗖Full Character
=
口kou3
left
叟sou3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 嗖?
How to say a whizzing sound in Chinese
“a whizzing sound” in Chinese is嗖sōu
嗖 (sōu) is an onomatopoeic character that represents the sound of something swiftly moving through the air, such as a whistle or a rush of wind. It is commonly used to describe the sound made by objects like arrows or vehicles, evoking a sense of speed and suddenness in action.
When to use 嗖
嗖 is typically used in informal contexts to describe sounds associated with speed. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings; the tone is crucial, as it is pronounced with a high level tone. Common collocations include phrases describing swift actions or movements.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 嗖 by using the wrong tone, such as saying 'sǒu' instead of 'sōu', which alters its meaning. Another common mistake is using it in formal contexts where a more standard expression would be appropriate.
Write 嗖
嗖
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Practice writing 嗖 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 嗖
嗖 functions as an onomatopoeic word — it imitates a sound. It often functions as an adverbial or stand-alone exclamation rather than a true verb or noun. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
斯图尔特感觉有个瓶子从他头上____地一下飞了过去。
Stewart felt a bottle whizz past his head.
Example Sentences for 嗖 (7)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
斯图尔特感觉有个瓶子从他头上嗖地一下飞了过去。
sī tú ěr tè gǎn jué yǒu gè píng zǐ cóng tā tóu shàng sōu dì yī xià fēi le guò qù。
Stewart felt a bottle whizz past his head.
2
一辆车嗖地驶过朝海岸开去。
yī liàng chē sōu dì shǐ guò zhāo hǎi àn kāi qù。
A car swished by heading for the coast.
3
他嗖的一下子站起身来跑了出去。
tā sōu de yī xià zǐ zhàn qǐ shēn lái pǎo le chū qù。
He sprang to his feet and ran outside.
4
我嗖的一声坐到其中一张深红色的沙发上。
wǒ sōu de yī shēng zuò dào qí zhōng yī zhāng shēn hóng sè de shā fā shàng。
I plopped down on one of the dark red sofas.
5
我起身时一颗子弹嗖的一声从我背后擦过。
wǒ qǐ shēn shí yī kē zǐ dàn sōu de yī shēng cóng wǒ bèi hòu cā guò。
