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蒐 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蒐sōucollect, gather, assemble; seek; spring hunt; assemble for warzg, 14 strokes, radical 艹
蒐sōumadder (Rubia cordifolia)unknown, 14 strokes, radical 艹
蒐sōuto hunt forunknown, 14 strokes, radical 艹
蒐sōuto gatherunknown, 14 strokes, radical 艹
蒐sōuto collectunknown, 14 strokes, radical 艹
sōu(sou1)sou T1
  1. 1collect, gather, assemble; seek; spring hunt; assemble for war
  2. 2madder (Rubia cordifolia)
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March 24, 2026

蒐sōu(sou1)

The character 蒐 (sōu) means to collect or gather. It is often used in contexts involving the collection of items, information, or resources, and can imply a deliberate or careful search. This term is commonly associated with gathering materials for research or assembling items in a specific context, such as hunting or war.

Strokes14Radical艹
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, gathering herbs and plants was not only a practical activity but also a part of medicine and culinary practices. The use of madder, associated with this character, has historical significance in dyeing textiles, showcasing the importance of gathering in various aspects of life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a hunter (the radical '艹' representing plants) carefully collecting herbs (which include madder) in a lush forest. The sound 'sōu' can be remembered by picturing the hunter saying 'so' as they gather each herb, emphasizing the act of collection.

Meanings of 蒐

sōu(sou1)
1collect, gather, assemble; seek; spring hunt; assemble for war
2madder (Rubia cordifolia)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 蒐

蒐Simplified
14Strokes
艹Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 蒐

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AI Study Notes for 蒐

Quick Contrast

收 (shōu) - use 蒐 (sōu) when emphasizing a careful or deliberate collection process, while 收 (shōu) is more general and can refer to any act of receiving or collecting.

Usage Notes

蒐 is more formal and less commonly used in everyday conversation compared to similar words like 收 (shōu). Be careful with the tone; it should always be pronounced with the first tone (sōu). Common collocations include 蒐集 (gather/collect) and often appears in academic or literary contexts.

HSK Study Tips

While 蒐 is not part of any official HSK level, it connects with words related to collection or gathering, like 收 (shōu) and 集 (jí). Students should focus on recognizing its formal usage and differentiating it from more commonly used synonyms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蒐 with 收 (shōu), thinking they are interchangeable, but 蒐 conveys a more specific meaning of collecting with intention. For example, saying '我收这个' (I collect this) should be corrected to '我蒐这个' when emphasizing a careful gathering.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蒐

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Etymology of 蒐

Decomposition of 蒐

IDS Structure⿱艹鬼
蒐Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
鬼gui3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蒐?

How to say collect, gather, assemble; seek; spring hunt; assemble for war in Chinese

“collect, gather, assemble; seek; spring hunt; assemble for war” in Chinese is蒐sōu

The character 蒐 (sōu) means to collect or gather. It is often used in contexts involving the collection of items, information, or resources, and can imply a deliberate or careful search. This term is commonly associated with gathering materials for research or assembling items in a specific context, such as hunting or war.

When to use 蒐

蒐 is more formal and less commonly used in everyday conversation compared to similar words like 收 (shōu). Be careful with the tone; it should always be pronounced with the first tone (sōu). Common collocations include 蒐集 (gather/collect) and often appears in academic or literary contexts.

蒐 or something close to it

收 (shōu) - use 蒐 (sōu) when emphasizing a careful or deliberate collection process, while 收 (shōu) is more general and can refer to any act of receiving or collecting.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蒐 with 收 (shōu), thinking they are interchangeable, but 蒐 conveys a more specific meaning of collecting with intention. For example, saying '我收这个' (I collect this) should be corrected to '我蒐这个' when emphasizing a careful gathering.

Write 蒐

蒐

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

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Word Family of 蒐

Words Containing This Character1
蒐sōuto hunt for

Frequently Asked Questions about 蒐

No, 蒐 is more formal and typically found in written texts or specific contexts like academic writing.

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