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舜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
舜shùnlegendary rulerg, 12 strokes, radical 舛, Very Hard
舜shùnShun (c. 22nd century BC), mythical sage and leaderunknown, 12 strokes, radical 舛, Very Hard
shùn(Shun4) T4
  1. 1legendary ruler
  2. 2Shun (c. 22nd century BC), mythical sage and leader
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March 24, 2026

舜shùn(Shun4)

舜 (shùn) refers to a legendary ruler in ancient Chinese history, known for his wisdom and virtue. He is considered one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and is often associated with ideal governance and moral leadership. His story reflects core values in Chinese culture, such as filial piety and the importance of benevolent rule.

Strokes12Radical舛Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 舜 is celebrated for his moral integrity and is often referenced in discussions about good governance. His story is linked to the concept of '德治' (rule by virtue), which remains relevant in contemporary discussions of leadership.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wise old man (the character 舜) standing on a mountain (山) with a flowing river (川) below, representing his connection to nature and leadership. The sound 'shùn' could remind you of 'shone,' as in the light of wisdom shining down from him.

Meanings of 舜

shùn(Shun4)
1legendary ruler
2Shun (c. 22nd century BC), mythical sage and leader
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 舜

舜Simplified
12Strokes
舛Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 舜

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Podcast: 舜

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AI Study Notes for 舜

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a wise old man (the character 舜) standing on a mountain (山) with a flowing river (川) below, representing his connection to nature and leadership. The sound 'shùn' could remind you of 'shone,' as in the light of wisdom shining down from him.

Usage Notes

舜 is primarily used in historical or literary contexts when discussing ancient rulers or moral examples. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, and note that it is generally considered formal. It is often collocated with words like '帝' (emperor) and '贤' (virtuous).

HSK Study Tips

Although 舜 is not part of the HSK levels, it connects to the study of Chinese history and literature, which can enhance vocabulary related to governance and ethics. Students should focus on understanding the context of his story to appreciate his significance.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 舜 is celebrated for his moral integrity and is often referenced in discussions about good governance. His story is linked to the concept of '德治' (rule by virtue), which remains relevant in contemporary discussions of leadership.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 舜 with similar characters, such as 君 (jūn), which means 'ruler' but lacks the specific historical context. For example, saying '舜是一个君' (Shun is a ruler) can be misleading, as 舜 specifically refers to this legendary figure.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 舜

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Etymology of 舜

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

claw

Semantic (meaning)爫
+
Phonetic (sound)舛
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 舜?

Decomposition of 舜

IDS Structure⿱⿱爫冖舛
舜Full Character
=
爫zhao3
top
冖mi4
bottom
舛chuan3
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 舜?

Write 舜

舜

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

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Grammar Patterns of 舜

舜 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

____帝姓姚,史称“虞舜”.

Legend has it that King Shun had as his surname Yao.

Example Sentences for 舜 (1)

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1
舜帝姓姚,史称“虞舜”.

shùn dì xìng yáo, , shǐ“ chēng “”.

Legend has it that King Shun had as his surname Yao.

Cultural Notes for 舜

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, 舜 is celebrated for his moral integrity and is often referenced in discussions about good governance. His story is linked to the concept of '德治' (rule by virtue), which remains relevant in contemporary discussions of leadership.

Word Family of 舜

Words Containing This Character3
李舜臣Yi Sunshin (1545-1598), Korean admiral and folk hero, famous for sea victories over the Japanese invaders
舜shùnShun (c. 22nd century BC), mythical sage and leader
虞舜Yu Shun, one of Five legendary Emperors 五帝[wǔ​dì]
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 李舜臣 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 舜

舜 is revered as a model ruler and a symbol of virtue, known for his exceptional leadership qualities.