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March 24, 2026
舍(捨)shě(she3)
The character 舍 (shě) primarily means 'to give up' or 'to abandon.' It is commonly used in contexts of relinquishing something, whether it be an object, a place, or an idea. Additionally, it can refer to a dwelling or residence, implying a physical space where one resides.
Strokes8Radical舌Frequency#7092DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of '舍' is often tied to values of generosity and selflessness, particularly in the context of giving alms or helping others. This reflects the importance of community and support in Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person 'shedding' their belongings in a big house (舍). The '舍' character visually resembles a roof over a space, symbolizing a place of dwelling, while the pronunciation 'shě' can remind you of 'she' who is letting go of possessions.
Meanings of 舍
shě(she3)
primary
1to give up
2to abandon
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 舍
舍Simplified
捨Traditional
8Strokes
舌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#7092Frequency Rank
Podcast: 舍
Podcast: 舍
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AI Study Notes for 舍
Quick Contrast
舍 (shě) vs 放弃 (fàngqì) — use 舍 when emphasizing the act of giving up or abandoning something, while 放弃 focuses more on the act of relinquishing or giving up an effort or claim.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 舍 with similar-sounding characters, leading to mistakes in tone. It is used both formally and informally, often in phrases like '舍不得' (shěbùdé), meaning 'to be reluctant to part with.' Pay attention to the fourth tone when using this character.
HSK Study Tips
Though 舍 is not currently included in HSK levels, it connects to themes of movement and space like 家 (jiā, home) and 住 (zhù, to live). Students should focus on understanding its usage in context, especially in phrases involving letting go.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is confusing 舍 with similar characters like 设 (shè, to set up), leading to incorrect meanings. For example, saying '我设这个地方' (Wǒ shè zhège dìfāng) instead of '我舍这个地方' (Wǒ shě zhège dìfāng) to express reluctance to leave.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 舍
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How Well Do You Know 舍?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 舍 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.
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 余 represents the sound. 口 (mouth) indicates that the character is only "mouthed", i.e. only used for its phonetic value.
舍 = 人 + 舌. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 舍
IDS Structure⿱人舌
舍Full Character
=
人ren2
top
舌she2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 舍?
How to say to give up in Chinese
“to give up” in Chinese is舍shě
The character 舍 (shě) primarily means 'to give up' or 'to abandon.' It is commonly used in contexts of relinquishing something, whether it be an object, a place, or an idea. Additionally, it can refer to a dwelling or residence, implying a physical space where one resides.
When to use 舍
Learners often confuse 舍 with similar-sounding characters, leading to mistakes in tone. It is used both formally and informally, often in phrases like '舍不得' (shěbùdé), meaning 'to be reluctant to part with.' Pay attention to the fourth tone when using this character.
舍 or something close to it
舍 (shě) vs 放弃 (fàngqì) — use 舍 when emphasizing the act of giving up or abandoning something, while 放弃 focuses more on the act of relinquishing or giving up an effort or claim.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is confusing 舍 with similar characters like 设 (shè, to set up), leading to incorrect meanings. For example, saying '我设这个地方' (Wǒ shè zhège dìfāng) instead of '我舍这个地方' (Wǒ shě zhège dìfāng) to express reluctance to leave.
Write 舍
舍
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Grammar Patterns of 舍
舍 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. It carries 6 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.
