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涩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
涩
sè
astringent
a, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #22675, Very Hard
涩
sè
tart
a, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #22675, Very Hard
涩
sè
acerbity
a, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #22675, Very Hard
涩
sè
unsmooth
a, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #22675, Very Hard
涩
sè
rough (surface)
a, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #22675, Very Hard
涩
sè
hard to understand
a, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #22675, Very Hard
涩
sè
obscure
a, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #22675, Very Hard
涩
sè
astringent, harsh, rough, uneven
a, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #22675, Very Hard
涩
sè
old variant of 澀
a, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #22675, Very Hard
sè(se4)se T4
1astringent
2tart
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March 24, 2026
涩(澀)sè(se4)
The character 涩 (sè) primarily means astringent or tart, often used to describe the taste of certain fruits or foods. It can also refer to something rough or unsmooth, both in texture and in terms of understanding complex ideas. This duality allows it to be applicable in culinary contexts as well as in discussions of clarity and comprehension.
Strokes10Radical氵Frequency#22675DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese cuisine, certain dishes are noted for their astringent flavors, particularly in traditional medicine, where astringency can be associated with health benefits. Understanding 涩 can enhance appreciation for the nuances of flavors in Chinese food.
Memory tip
Imagine biting into a sour fruit, making your face scrunch up because of its astringent taste—this represents 涩 (sè). The character features the water radical 氵 on the left, connecting it to juices or liquids, and the right side 乞 looks like an open mouth, indicating the taste experience.
Meanings of 涩
sè(se4)
1astringent
2tart
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 涩 means.
About 涩
涩Simplified
澀Traditional
10Strokes
氵Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#22675Frequency Rank
Podcast: 涩
Podcast: 涩
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AI study notes for 涩
Quick Contrast
涩 (sè, astringent) vs 酸 (suān, sour) — choose 涩 when describing a specific astringent taste, while 酸 is used for a more general sour flavor.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 涩 (sè) with similar-sounding characters like 色 (sè), which means color. It's important to use 涩 in contexts involving taste or texture rather than color. This character is more commonly used in informal settings, especially in culinary discussions.
HSK Study Tips
Although 涩 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners at HSK 4. Understanding this character can help with comprehension of more complex texts that include culinary or metaphorical language. Focus on its various usages to enhance vocabulary breadth.
Common Mistakes
Learners might mistakenly use 涩 (sè) to describe colors or emotions, where they should use characters like 色 (sè) for color. For example, saying '这件衣服很涩' (This piece of clothing is very astringent) is incorrect; a proper phrase would be '这件衣服的颜色很鲜艳' (The color of this clothing is very bright).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 涩
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 涩 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 涩 (sè) primarily means astringent or tart, often used to describe the taste of certain fruits or foods. It can also refer to something rough or unsmooth, both in texture and in terms of understanding complex ideas. This duality allows it to be applicable in culinary contexts as well as in discussions of clarity and comprehension.
When to use 涩
Learners often confuse 涩 (sè) with similar-sounding characters like 色 (sè), which means color. It's important to use 涩 in contexts involving taste or texture rather than color. This character is more commonly used in informal settings, especially in culinary discussions.
涩 or something close to it
涩 (sè, astringent) vs 酸 (suān, sour) — choose 涩 when describing a specific astringent taste, while 酸 is used for a more general sour flavor.
What learners get wrong
Learners might mistakenly use 涩 (sè) to describe colors or emotions, where they should use characters like 色 (sè) for color. For example, saying '这件衣服很涩' (This piece of clothing is very astringent) is incorrect; a proper phrase would be '这件衣服的颜色很鲜艳' (The color of this clothing is very bright).
Write 涩
涩
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Practice writing 涩 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 涩
涩 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 9 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
性感迷人的沃顿小姐对我羞____地会心一笑。
The luscious Miss Wharton gave me a demure but knowing smile.
Example sentences for 涩 (10)
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1
性感迷人的沃顿小姐对我羞涩地会心一笑。
xìnggǎn mírén de wò dùn xiǎojiě duì wǒ xiū sè dì huì xīn yī xiào。
The luscious Miss Wharton gave me a demure but knowing smile.
2
他的散文文笔有力、内容庞杂，有时几近晦涩。
tā de sǎnwén wén bǐ yǒulì、 nèiróng páng zá， yǒushí jǐ jìn huì sè。
His prose is vigorous and dense, occasionally to the point of obscurity.
