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March 24, 2026
暑shǔ(shu3)
The character 暑 (shǔ) primarily means 'heat' or 'hot weather,' especially in the context of summer. It is commonly used to describe the high temperatures experienced during the summer months or in very warm climates. It can also refer to the sensation of heat itself in various contexts.
Strokes12Radical日Frequency#45136DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In China, the concept of 暑 is often linked to traditional summer activities, such as going on vacations, enjoying cold dishes like watermelon, and participating in festivals during the hot months, illustrating the significance of seasonal changes in daily life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a scorching summer day where the sun is shining brightly (the sun is a component of the character 暑). Picture yourself sweating as you soak up the 'heat' (shǔ) of the summer sun. The sun's rays are so intense that they seem to radiate the feeling of heat all around you!
Meanings of 暑
shǔ(shu3)
1heat
2hot weather
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 暑
暑Simplified
12Strokes
日Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#45136Frequency Rank
Podcast: 暑
Podcast: 暑
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AI Study Notes for 暑
Quick Contrast
炎 (yán) - use 暑 (shǔ) for general hot weather, while 炎 (yán) specifically refers to intense heat or flames.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a scorching summer day where the sun is shining brightly (the sun is a component of the character 暑). Picture yourself sweating as you soak up the 'heat' (shǔ) of the summer sun. The sun's rays are so intense that they seem to radiate the feeling of heat all around you!
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 暑 with 热 (rè), which also means 'hot' but is often used for temperature rather than weather. Use 暑 specifically when discussing summer heat. It is more commonly used in informal contexts but may appear in written forms, like weather reports.
HSK Study Tips
Although 暑 is not included in the official HSK levels, it is related to other vocabulary about seasons and weather, such as 春 (chūn, spring) and 冬 (dōng, winter). Students should focus on using 暑 in sentences about weather to reinforce its meaning.
Cultural Note
In China, the concept of 暑 is often linked to traditional summer activities, such as going on vacations, enjoying cold dishes like watermelon, and participating in festivals during the hot months, illustrating the significance of seasonal changes in daily life.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 暑 with 热, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '今天很热' (jīntiān hěn rè) is correct, but if specifically referring to summer, '今天很暑' is more appropriate.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 暑
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Grammar Patterns of 暑
暑 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
No cold here in winter, summer without heat, steam moderate rainfall.
Cultural Notes for 暑
🏮Cultural insight
In China, the concept of 暑 is often linked to traditional summer activities, such as going on vacations, enjoying cold dishes like watermelon, and participating in festivals during the hot months, illustrating the significance of seasonal changes in daily life.
Word Family of 暑
Compounds2
濐
鱪
Words Containing This Character15
暑假shǔjiàsummer vacation
暑期shǔqīsummer vacation time
避暑bìshǔto prevent sunstroke
中暑sunstroke
暑shǔheat
酷暑intense heat
消暑to spend a summer holiday
防暑降温to prevent heatstroke and reduce temperature防暑降溫
暑热hot (summer) weather暑熱
大暑Dashu or Great Heat, 12th of the 24 solar terms 二十四節氣|二十四节气 23rd July-6th August
避暑山庄mountain resort避暑山莊
暑气(summer) heat暑氣
暑天hot (summer) day
小暑Xiaoshu or Lesser Heat, 11th of the 24 solar terms 二十四節氣|二十四节气 7th-22nd July
处暑Chushu or End of Heat, 14th of the 24 solar terms 二十四節氣|二十四节气 23rd August-7th September處暑
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 暑假 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 暑
Related words include 夏天 (xiàtiān), which means 'summer,' and 热 (rè), meaning 'hot.' These words are often used together to describe the warmest season of the year and the temperatures associated with it.
'Summer heat' in Chinese can be expressed as 暑热 (shǔrè). This term combines 暑, meaning 'heat,' with 热, which also means 'hot,' to emphasize the intensity of the heat during the summer months.
暑 (shǔ) means 'heat' or 'hot weather' in Chinese. It is often used in the context of summer, referring to the hot temperatures that characterize this season. The character can also describe the uncomfortable heat experienced during the hottest days.
You can use 暑 (shǔ) in a sentence like '今天天气很暑' (jīntiān tiānqì hěn shǔ), which means 'Today the weather is very hot.' It is commonly used to talk about the heat during summer or in discussions about the weather.
You can say '今天很暑' (jīntiān hěn shǔ) meaning 'Today is very hot.'
暑 is used in both spoken and written Chinese, but you may encounter it more in formal contexts like weather reports.
Synonyms include 热 (rè) for 'hot' and 炎热 (yánrè) for 'scorching heat.'
