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嗩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
嗩suǒa flute-like musical instrumentx, 13 strokes, radical 口
suǒ(suo3) T3
  1. 1a flute-like musical instrument
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

嗩suǒ(suo3)

嗩 (suǒ) refers to a type of traditional Chinese wind instrument, similar to a flute. It is characterized by its mellow tone and is often used in folk music and cultural performances, showcasing the rich musical heritage of China.

Strokes13Radical口
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, instruments like the 嗩 play a vital role in traditional festivals and celebrations, reflecting the importance of music in community and family gatherings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a soothing sound as you 'swoosh' a soft breeze through a flute, which helps you remember 'suǒ' for its connection to a wind instrument. The character 嗩 can be broken down: '口' (kǒu) symbolizes mouth, indicating it is played by blowing air, while '娑' gives a flowing, musical quality to the image.

Meanings of 嗩

suǒ(suo3)
1a flute-like musical instrument
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 嗩

嗩Simplified
13Strokes
口Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 嗩

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Podcast: 嗩

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AI Study Notes for 嗩

Usage Notes

嗩 is a formal term mainly used in musical contexts; avoid using it in casual conversations about music. Common collocations include '嗩吶' (suǒnà), which refers to a specific type of horn. Pay attention to the tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 嗩 is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to cultural and musical terms you may encounter at higher levels. Focus on recognizing its usage in traditional music contexts, as it enriches your understanding of Chinese culture and arts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 嗩 with similar-sounding words or instruments. For example, saying '我喜欢嗩' (wǒ xǐhuān suǒ) might be incorrect if they mean a different instrument; specifying '我喜欢嗩吶' is necessary for clarity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 嗩

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Etymology of 嗩

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A mouth 口 blowing ⺌ through a conch 貝

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 嗩

  1. 1The giveawayA mouth 口 blowing ⺌ through a conch 貝
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 嗩? 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 嗩?

Decomposition of 嗩

IDS Structure⿰口⿱⺌貝
嗩Full Character
=
口kou3
left
⺌xiao3
top
貝bei4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 嗩?

How to say a flute-like musical instrument in Chinese

“a flute-like musical instrument” in Chinese is嗩suǒ

嗩 (suǒ) refers to a type of traditional Chinese wind instrument, similar to a flute. It is characterized by its mellow tone and is often used in folk music and cultural performances, showcasing the rich musical heritage of China.

When to use 嗩

嗩 is a formal term mainly used in musical contexts; avoid using it in casual conversations about music. Common collocations include '嗩吶' (suǒnà), which refers to a specific type of horn. Pay attention to the tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 嗩 with similar-sounding words or instruments. For example, saying '我喜欢嗩' (wǒ xǐhuān suǒ) might be incorrect if they mean a different instrument; specifying '我喜欢嗩吶' is necessary for clarity.

Write 嗩

嗩

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 嗩

Words Containing This Character2
唢呐also written 鎖吶|锁呐嗩吶
唢suǒalso written 鎖吶|锁呐嗩
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 唢呐 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 嗩

The 嗩 is primarily used in traditional Chinese folk music and performances.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 嗩?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.