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尗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
shūyounger brother; father's younger brotherzg, 6 strokes, radical 小, Very Hard
shūarchaic variant of 菽[shu1]unknown, 6 strokes, radical 小, Very Hard
shūarchaic variant of 叔[shu1]unknown, 6 strokes, radical 小, Very Hard
shū(shu1) T1
  1. 1younger brother; father's younger brother
  2. 2archaic variant of 菽[shu1]
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March 24, 2026

shū(shu1)

The character 尗 (shū) refers to a younger brother or a father's younger brother in a familial context. It is considered an archaic variant of 菽 (shū), meaning 'bean', and also of 叔 (shū), which means 'uncle'. This character is rarely used in modern Mandarin but may appear in classical texts or discussions of family relationships.

Strokes6RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, familial hierarchy and relationships are significant, with specific terms for different family members. The use of characters like 尗 reflects the importance placed on lineage and familial bonds in Chinese society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a younger brother (弟弟) holding a large bean (豆) in his hand, representing the character 尗. The left side '耳' suggests listening to family, while the right side relates to the sound 'shū', like a younger brother calling out for attention.

Meanings of 尗

shū(shu1)
1younger brother; father's younger brother
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 尗

Simplified
6Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 尗

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AI Study Notes for 尗

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a younger brother (弟弟) holding a large bean (豆) in his hand, representing the character 尗. The left side '耳' suggests listening to family, while the right side relates to the sound 'shū', like a younger brother calling out for attention.

Usage Notes

Due to its archaic status, 尗 is not commonly used in everyday conversation. Learners should be cautious with its pronunciation and context, as using it in modern settings may lead to confusion. It's important to recognize this character mainly in literary or historical texts.

HSK Study Tips

As 尗 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, focus on understanding its historical context and relation to other familial terms at your level. Consider how it connects to other characters like 叔 (shū) and its usage in classical literature.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, familial hierarchy and relationships are significant, with specific terms for different family members. The use of characters like 尗 reflects the importance placed on lineage and familial bonds in Chinese society.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 尗 with more commonly used terms like 叔 (shū). For example, saying '我有一个尗' (I have a younger brother) is incorrect; the proper term would be '我有一个弟弟' (I have a younger brother).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 尗

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Etymology of 尗

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

The smaller 小 of two brothers

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 尗?

Decomposition of 尗

IDS Structure⿱上小
Full Character
=
shang3
top
xiao3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 尗?

Write 尗

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

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Cultural Notes for 尗

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese culture, familial hierarchy and relationships are significant, with specific terms for different family members. The use of characters like 尗 reflects the importance placed on lineage and familial bonds in Chinese society.

Word Family of 尗

Words Containing This Character1
shūarchaic variant of 菽[shū]
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 尗 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 尗

No, 尗 is considered archaic and is rarely used in contemporary language.