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潲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
shàoto sprinkle; driving rainv, 15 strokes, radical 氵, rank #91576, Very Hard
shào(shao4) T4
  1. 1to sprinkle; driving rain
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March 24, 2026

shào(shao4)

The character 潲 (shào) primarily means to sprinkle or pour, particularly in the context of rain. It is often used to describe heavy, driving rain that seems to drench everything in its path, evoking a sense of abundance and intensity in precipitation.

Strokes15RadicalFrequency#91576DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, rain is often associated with fertility and growth, making the concept of driving rain particularly significant in agricultural contexts. The term may evoke imagery of lush landscapes rejuvenated by such downpours.

Memory Tip

Imagine a chef (the radical '氵' for water) sprinkling a heavy rain of salt over a dish. The sound of 'shào' resembles the action of sprinkling, and the character’s watery component reinforces this idea of something being poured out.

Meanings of 潲

shào(shao4)
1to sprinkle; driving rain
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 潲

Simplified
15Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 潲

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AI Study Notes for 潲

Quick Contrast

倾 (qīng, to pour) — use 潲 when emphasizing the intensity of rain rather than just the action of pouring.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a chef (the radical '氵' for water) sprinkling a heavy rain of salt over a dish. The sound of 'shào' resembles the action of sprinkling, and the character’s watery component reinforces this idea of something being poured out.

Usage Notes

While 潲 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, it is mostly found in literary descriptions of weather. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words; ensure to use it specifically for heavy rain. Be careful with the tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other characters.

HSK Study Tips

Although 潲 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other weather-related terms like 雨 (yǔ, rain) and 雪 (xuě, snow). Focus on its usage in descriptive contexts, as it enhances vocabulary for discussing weather conditions.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, rain is often associated with fertility and growth, making the concept of driving rain particularly significant in agricultural contexts. The term may evoke imagery of lush landscapes rejuvenated by such downpours.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 潲 to describe light or drizzle, which is incorrect. Instead, use 小雨 (xiǎo yǔ) for light rain. Additionally, confusing it with similar characters like 洒 (sǎ) can lead to errors in context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 潲

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Etymology of 潲

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

A little 稍 water 氵; 稍 also provides the pronunciation

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 潲?

Decomposition of 潲

IDS Structure⿰氵稍
Full Character
=
shui3
left
shao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 潲?

Write 潲

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 潲

潲 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

快关窗户,别让雨点 ____ 进来.

Close the window quickly lest the raindrops ( should ) slant in.

Example Sentences for 潲 (1)

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1
快关窗户,别让雨点 潲 进来.

kuài guān chuāng hù, , bié ràng yǔ diǎn shào.

Close the window quickly lest the raindrops ( should ) slant in.

Cultural Notes for 潲

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, rain is often associated with fertility and growth, making the concept of driving rain particularly significant in agricultural contexts. The term may evoke imagery of lush landscapes rejuvenated by such downpours.

Word Family of 潲

Words Containing This Character1
shàodriving rain
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 潲 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 潲

No, 潲 is more commonly found in literary contexts or weather reports rather than in daily speech.