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绶 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
绶shòua silk ribbon used as a sealng, 11 strokes, radical 纟, rank #67050, Very Hard
绶shòucord on a sealunknown, 11 strokes, radical 纟, rank #67050, Very Hard
shòu(shou4) T4
  1. 1a silk ribbon used as a seal
  2. 2cord on a seal
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March 24, 2026

绶(綬)shòu(shou4)

The character 绶 (shòu) refers to a silk ribbon or cord that is traditionally used to seal documents or as a decorative element. It is commonly associated with official seals in Chinese culture, symbolizing authority and legitimacy. The usage of 绶 can be found in formal contexts, especially in historical or ceremonial settings.

Strokes11Radical纟Frequency#67050DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese history, official seals adorned with 绶 were used by emperors and officials, emphasizing their power and the importance of documentation. This character reflects the traditional practices surrounding authority and formal agreements in Chinese society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a beautiful silk ribbon (绶) wrapped around an official document to keep it secure. The character has a silk radical (丝) at the top, which reminds you of silk, while the bottom part looks like a loop, signifying how the ribbon is tied. Think of it as 'sealing' your important papers with elegance!

Meanings of 绶

shòu(shou4)
1a silk ribbon used as a seal
2cord on a seal
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 绶

绶Simplified
綬Traditional
11Strokes
纟Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 绶

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Podcast: 绶

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AI Study Notes for 绶

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 绶 with similar-sounding words. It is predominantly used in formal writing and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Look for collocations like '绶带' (silk ribbon) or '绶印' (seal), and remember to use the correct tone, as mispronunciation can change meanings.

HSK Study Tips

While 绶 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects thematically to words related to documents and authority, such as 印 (yìn, seal) and 证 (zhèng, certificate). Focus on understanding its cultural significance and usage in formal contexts to enrich your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 绶 with 受 (shòu), which means 'to receive.' For example, saying '我绶到了礼物' (I sealed the gift) instead of '我收到了礼物' (I received the gift) is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 绶

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Etymology of 绶

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

Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 受 represents the sound. Simplified form of 綬.

Memory Hint

silk

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 绶

Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 受 represents the sound. Simplified form of 綬.

  1. 1The meaning half纟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half受 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaysilk
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 绶? 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 绶?

Decomposition of 绶

IDS Structure⿰纟受
绶Full Character
=
纟si1
left
受shou4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 绶?

How to say a silk ribbon used as a seal in Chinese

“a silk ribbon used as a seal” in Chinese is绶shòu

The character 绶 (shòu) refers to a silk ribbon or cord that is traditionally used to seal documents or as a decorative element. It is commonly associated with official seals in Chinese culture, symbolizing authority and legitimacy. The usage of 绶 can be found in formal contexts, especially in historical or ceremonial settings.

When to use 绶

Be careful not to confuse 绶 with similar-sounding words. It is predominantly used in formal writing and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Look for collocations like '绶带' (silk ribbon) or '绶印' (seal), and remember to use the correct tone, as mispronunciation can change meanings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 绶 with 受 (shòu), which means 'to receive.' For example, saying '我绶到了礼物' (I sealed the gift) instead of '我收到了礼物' (I received the gift) is incorrect.

Write 绶

绶

Practice writing 绶 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 绶

Words Containing This Character4
绶带ribbon (as a decoration)綬帶
绶shòucord on a seal綬
印绶sealed ribbon fastening correspondence (in former times)印綬
吐绶鸡turkey吐綬雞
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 绶带 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 绶

绶 is mainly used in formal contexts related to seals and certificates, often appearing in historical or ceremonial documents.

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