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挲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
挲suōto feel or fondle with the fingersx, 11 strokes, radical 手
挲suōto fondleunknown, 11 strokes, radical 手
挲sāto feel or fondle with the fingersx, 11 strokes, radical 手
挲sāto fondleunknown, 11 strokes, radical 手
sā(sa1)sa
primary
T1
  1. 1to feel or fondle with the fingers
  2. 2to fondle
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March 24, 2026

挲(挱)sā(sa1)

The character 挲 (sā) primarily means to feel or fondle something gently with the fingers, often suggesting a sense of tenderness or affection. It is less commonly used as a variant of the character 挲 (suō), which conveys a slightly different nuance. You might encounter this term in contexts related to physical touch or affection between individuals or towards objects.

Strokes11Radical手
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the act of fondling or gently touching can symbolize affection and care, often seen in familial relationships or friendships. This character may appear in poetry or literature that celebrates gentle emotions and interpersonal connections.

Memory tip

Imagine a soft, fluffy cat that you want to feel gently with your fingers. The character 挲 (sā) has a hand radical (扌) on the left, symbolizing touch, and the right side resembles a cozy cat curled up, inviting you to fondle it. Remember, 'sā' sounds like 'saw'—just as you 'saw' the cat, now you want to 'feel' it gently.

Meanings of 挲

sā(sa1)
primary
1to feel or fondle with the fingers
2to fondle
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 挲

挲Simplified
挱Traditional
11Strokes
手Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 挲

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AI study notes for 挲

Usage Notes

This character is typically used in informal contexts, often expressing affection. A common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding characters that imply different actions. Pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can completely change the meaning. For instance, saying 'suo' instead of 'sā' can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 挲 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, its connection to the hand radical (扌) can help learners relate it to other hand-related verbs like 拿 (ná - to take) and 抓 (zhuā - to grab). Focus on recognizing the character's components and how they relate to actions involving touch.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 挲 (sā) with 挪 (nuó), which means to move or shift something. For example, saying '我想挪这个' (I want to fondle this) is incorrect; the correct expression would be '我想挲这个' (I want to fondle this).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 挲

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Etymology of 挲

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

hand

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

Origin

挲 = 手 + 沙. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 挲

IDS Structure⿱沙手
挲Full character
=
沙Sha1
top
手shou3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 挲?

How to say to feel or fondle with the fingers in Chinese

“to feel or fondle with the fingers” in Chinese is挲suō

The character 挲 (sā) primarily means to feel or fondle something gently with the fingers, often suggesting a sense of tenderness or affection. It is less commonly used as a variant of the character 挲 (suō), which conveys a slightly different nuance. You might encounter this term in contexts related to physical touch or affection between individuals or towards objects.

When to use 挲

This character is typically used in informal contexts, often expressing affection. A common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding characters that imply different actions. Pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can completely change the meaning. For instance, saying 'suo' instead of 'sā' can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 挲 (sā) with 挪 (nuó), which means to move or shift something. For example, saying '我想挪这个' (I want to fondle this) is incorrect; the correct expression would be '我想挲这个' (I want to fondle this).

Write 挲

挲

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

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Grammar patterns of 挲

挲 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

残留在秃头上的稀发乱七八糟地挓____着.

What hair remained on his balding head stuck out untidily.

Example sentences for 挲 (1)

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1
残留在秃头上的稀发乱七八糟地挓挲着.

cánliú zài tū tóu shàng de xī fā luànqībāzāo dì zhā sā zhe.

What hair remained on his balding head stuck out untidily.

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Word Family of 挲

Words containing this character2
摩挲to stroke
挲sāfeel
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 挲

What does 摩挲 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 挲

The correct pronunciation is 'sā' with a high-level tone, similar to the sound of 'saw'.

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