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March 24, 2026
诵(誦)sòng(song4)
The character 诵 (sòng) primarily means 'to read aloud' or 'to recite.' It is often used in contexts such as poetry recitation or the chanting of scriptures, emphasizing the act of vocal expression and delivery. This term conveys a sense of performance and artistry in reading.
Strokes9Radical讠Frequency#45454DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, reciting poetry is a revered art form, often associated with traditional festivals or scholarly gatherings. Historical figures, such as Confucius, are known for their recitation of classical texts, which emphasizes the importance of eloquence in cultural heritage.
Memory Tip
Think of 诵 (sòng) as a combination of the speech radical 说 (to speak) and a sound component, which evokes the image of someone reciting poetry passionately. Imagine a person standing on a stage, reciting beautiful verses, their voice resonating through the hall, capturing the beauty of words.
Meanings of 诵
sòng(song4)
1to read aloud
2to recite
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 诵 means.
About 诵
诵Simplified
誦Traditional
9Strokes
讠Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#45454Frequency Rank
Podcast: 诵
Podcast: 诵
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AI Study Notes for 诵
Quick Contrast
吟 (yín) vs 诵 (sòng): Choose 诵 when emphasizing the act of reciting or reading aloud, especially in a formal or performance context, while 吟 focuses more on the act of singing or chanting, often in a more lyrical or poetic manner.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 诵 with similar-sounding words like 宋 (sòng), which refers to the Song Dynasty or can mean 'to celebrate.' 诵 is generally used in formal contexts, such as literature or religious settings. Common collocations include 朗诵 (lǎng sòng), meaning 'to recite aloud,' and 诗歌诵 (shī gē sòng), meaning 'poetry recitation.'
HSK Study Tips
While 诵 is not found in HSK levels 1-6, it connects to other words related to speaking and literature, such as 说 (to speak) and 读 (to read). Students should focus on pronunciation and usage in formal contexts to strengthen their vocabulary in public speaking or literary discussions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 诵 with 读 (dú), which means 'to read' in a general sense. For example, saying '我喜欢读诗' (Wǒ xǐhuān dú shī) is correct, but if you mean to recite it aloud, you should use 诵: '我喜欢诵诗' (Wǒ xǐhuān sòng shī).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 诵
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How Well Do You Know 诵?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 诵 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.
诵 = 讠 + 甬. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 诵
IDS Structure⿰讠甬
诵Full Character
=
讠yan2
left
甬tong3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 诵?
How to say to read aloud in Chinese
“to read aloud” in Chinese is诵sòng
The character 诵 (sòng) primarily means 'to read aloud' or 'to recite.' It is often used in contexts such as poetry recitation or the chanting of scriptures, emphasizing the act of vocal expression and delivery. This term conveys a sense of performance and artistry in reading.
When to use 诵
Be careful not to confuse 诵 with similar-sounding words like 宋 (sòng), which refers to the Song Dynasty or can mean 'to celebrate.' 诵 is generally used in formal contexts, such as literature or religious settings. Common collocations include 朗诵 (lǎng sòng), meaning 'to recite aloud,' and 诗歌诵 (shī gē sòng), meaning 'poetry recitation.'
诵 or something close to it
吟 (yín) vs 诵 (sòng): Choose 诵 when emphasizing the act of reciting or reading aloud, especially in a formal or performance context, while 吟 focuses more on the act of singing or chanting, often in a more lyrical or poetic manner.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 诵 with 读 (dú), which means 'to read' in a general sense. For example, saying '我喜欢读诗' (Wǒ xǐhuān dú shī) is correct, but if you mean to recite it aloud, you should use 诵: '我喜欢诵诗' (Wǒ xǐhuān sòng shī).
Write 诵
诵
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Practice writing 诵 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 诵
诵 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 3 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
你只是在背____自己死记硬背下来的东西。
You are merely reciting facts that you have learned by rote.
