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笙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
笙shēngfree reed mouth organn, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #30938, Very Hard
笙shēngfree reed mouth organ, with wooden pipes stuck into a gourdunknown, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #30938, Very Hard
shēng(sheng1) T1
  1. 1free reed mouth organ
  2. 2free reed mouth organ, with wooden pipes stuck into a gourd
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

笙shēng(sheng1)

笙 (shēng) refers to a traditional Chinese musical instrument, specifically a type of free reed mouth organ made of bamboo pipes and a gourd. It is commonly used in various Chinese musical ensembles and is known for its rich, resonant sound. In addition to its musical context, the character can also symbolize harmony and cultural heritage.

Strokes11Radical⺮Frequency#30938DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The 笙 is integral to traditional Chinese orchestras, often accompanying festivals and ceremonies. Its unique sound is associated with celebrations and is a symbol of artistic expression in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a beautiful scene where a musician plays the 笙 (shēng) under a bamboo grove. The character 笙 contains the radical for bamboo (竹) on the left, reminding you of the bamboo pipes, and the phonetic component (生) sounds like 'sheng,' which hints at 'sound' or 'life'—the essence of music.

Meanings of 笙

shēng(sheng1)
1free reed mouth organ
2free reed mouth organ, with wooden pipes stuck into a gourd
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 笙

笙Simplified
11Strokes
⺮Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 笙

JasonAmy

Podcast: 笙

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AI Study Notes for 笙

Usage Notes

When using 笙, be aware that it is more commonly referenced in musical contexts, so it may not be familiar outside of discussions about traditional Chinese music. Avoid confusion with similar instruments by ensuring the context is clear. It’s often used in formal settings, particularly in cultural performances.

HSK Study Tips

Although 笙 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with other musical terms and instruments you may encounter at this level. Focus on related vocabulary regarding musical instruments to enhance your cultural understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 笙 with similar instruments like 笛 (dí) or 嗩吶 (suǒnà). Remember that 笙 specifically refers to the mouth organ with bamboo pipes, while the others have different methods of sound production.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 笙

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Etymology of 笙

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. ⺮ represents the meaning and 生 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

bamboo

Semantic (meaning)⺮
+
Phonetic (sound)生
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 笙

Phonosemantic compound. ⺮ represents the meaning and 生 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half⺮ carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half生 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaybamboo
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 笙? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 笙?

Decomposition of 笙

IDS Structure⿱⺮生
笙Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
生sheng1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 笙?

How to say free reed mouth organ in Chinese

“free reed mouth organ” in Chinese is笙shēng

笙 (shēng) refers to a traditional Chinese musical instrument, specifically a type of free reed mouth organ made of bamboo pipes and a gourd. It is commonly used in various Chinese musical ensembles and is known for its rich, resonant sound. In addition to its musical context, the character can also symbolize harmony and cultural heritage.

When to use 笙

When using 笙, be aware that it is more commonly referenced in musical contexts, so it may not be familiar outside of discussions about traditional Chinese music. Avoid confusion with similar instruments by ensuring the context is clear. It’s often used in formal settings, particularly in cultural performances.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 笙 with similar instruments like 笛 (dí) or 嗩吶 (suǒnà). Remember that 笙 specifically refers to the mouth organ with bamboo pipes, while the others have different methods of sound production.

Write 笙

笙

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 笙

Words Containing This Character3
笙shēngsheng, a free reed wind instrument, with vertical bamboo pipes
芦笙reed-pipe wind instrument蘆笙
杜月笙Du Yuesheng (1888-1951), Shanghai secret-society leader, banker, industrialist
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 笙 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 笙

The 笙 is specifically a free reed mouth organ, while instruments like the 笛 (dí) are flutes that produce sound differently.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 笙?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.