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埽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
埽sàobroom; to sweep, to clear awayg, 11 strokes, radical 土
埽sàodikeunknown, 11 strokes, radical 土
埽sàoold variant of 掃|扫[sao4]unknown, 11 strokes, radical 土
sào(sao4)sao T4
  1. 1broom; to sweep, to clear away
  2. 2dike
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March 24, 2026

埽sào(sao4)

The character 埽 (sào) refers to a broom used for sweeping or clearing away debris. It can also denote the action of sweeping or clearing away, and historically, it has been used in the context of dikes or barriers. This character is less common in modern usage compared to its simplified variant 掃 (sǎo), which means 'to sweep.'

Strokes11Radical土
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese households, sweeping is a common practice during the Lunar New Year, symbolizing the removal of bad luck and welcoming good fortune. The connection of 埽 to sweeping emphasizes the cultural significance of cleanliness and renewal.

Memory tip

Imagine a sweeping motion with a broom made of earth (土) and grass (艹), representing 埽. The 's' sound in 'sào' can be remembered as the sound of the broom sweeping across the floor, clearing everything in its path.

Meanings of 埽

sào(sao4)
1broom; to sweep, to clear away
2dike
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 埽

埽Simplified
11Strokes
土Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 埽

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Podcast: 埽

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AI study notes for 埽

Quick Contrast

扫 (sǎo) - use 埽 (sào) when referring to the traditional or historical context of sweeping or clearing, while 扫 (sǎo) is more commonly used in modern contexts.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 埽 with 掃 (sǎo) due to their similar meanings. While 埽 is less frequently used in modern language, it's important to recognize its historical context. Make sure to use the correct tone when pronouncing, as a wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Though not an HSK vocabulary word, understanding 埽 can help learners grasp the evolution of related terms like 掃. Focus on the context in which each character is used, as this will enhance your comprehension of related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 埽 in contexts where 掃 is more appropriate. For example, saying '我用埽来扫地' (I use 埽 to sweep the floor) should be corrected to '我用扫来扫地'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 埽

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Etymology of 埽

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

To sweep 帚 away dirt 土

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 埽?

Decomposition of 埽

IDS Structure⿰土帚
埽Full character
=
土Tu3
left
帚zhou3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 埽?

How to say broom; to sweep, to clear away in Chinese

“broom; to sweep, to clear away” in Chinese is埽sào

The character 埽 (sào) refers to a broom used for sweeping or clearing away debris. It can also denote the action of sweeping or clearing away, and historically, it has been used in the context of dikes or barriers. This character is less common in modern usage compared to its simplified variant 掃 (sǎo), which means 'to sweep.'

When to use 埽

Learners often confuse 埽 with 掃 (sǎo) due to their similar meanings. While 埽 is less frequently used in modern language, it's important to recognize its historical context. Make sure to use the correct tone when pronouncing, as a wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.

埽 or something close to it

扫 (sǎo) - use 埽 (sào) when referring to the traditional or historical context of sweeping or clearing, while 扫 (sǎo) is more commonly used in modern contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 埽 in contexts where 掃 is more appropriate. For example, saying '我用埽来扫地' (I use 埽 to sweep the floor) should be corrected to '我用扫来扫地'.

Write 埽

埽

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

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Word Family of 埽

Words containing this character1
埽sàodike

Frequently asked questions about 埽

埽 is an older variant that means broom or to sweep, while 掃 is the more commonly used modern form for sweeping.

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