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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#22675DifficultyHard
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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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 10 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
Complete the Sentence
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。
xìng gǎn mí rén de wò dùn xiǎo jiě 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 sàn wén wén bǐ yǒu lì、 、 nèi róng páng， zá ， yǒu shí jī jìn。
His prose is vigorous and dense, occasionally to the point of obscurity.
3
他刚写完一本书，插图精美，内容也并不艰涩。
tā gāng xiě wán yī běn shū， ， chā tú jīng， měi ， nèi róng yě bìng bù。
He's just written a book, nicely illustrated and not too technical.
4
当人们追问她的私生活时，她羞涩地笑了笑。
dāng rén mén zhuī wèn tā de sī shēng huó shí， ， tā xiū sè dì xiào le。
She smiles coyly when pressed about her private life.
The involved and abstruse passage makes several interpretations possible.
9
绿柿子非常涩.
lǜ shì zǐ fēi cháng sè.
Green persimmons are strongly astringent.
10
在谈到钱时，德比利毫无英国式的羞涩。
zài tán dào qián shí， ， dé bǐ lì háo wú yīng guó shì de xiū。
Debilly had no Anglo-Saxon shyness about discussing money.
Cultural Notes for 涩
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 涩
Words Containing This Character12
涩sètart澀
苦涩kǔsèpained苦澀
羞涩shy羞澀
晦涩cryptic晦澀
干涩hoarse (voice)乾澀
囊中羞涩to be embarrassingly short of money囊中羞澀
生涩unripe生澀
酸涩sour酸澀
冷涩chilly冷澀
脱涩to remove astringent taste脫澀
艰深晦涩abstruse and unfathomable (idiom)艱深晦澀
拙涩botched writing拙澀
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 涩 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 涩
Besides taste, 涩 can describe a rough surface or a difficult-to-understand concept.
Think of 'sour' to remind you that 涩 (sè) is related to astringent or tart flavors.
It's mostly used in informal settings, particularly in culinary discussions, rather than formal writing.
