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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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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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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.
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.
1The meaning half人 carries the sense.
2The sound half舌 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaythe shape of a roof
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 舍? 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 舍?
Decomposition of 舍
IDS Structure⿱人舌
舍Full Character
=
人ren2
top
舌she2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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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Practice writing 舍 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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.
