Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
贅zhuì(zhui4)
The character 贅 (zhuì) refers to something that is unnecessary or superfluous. It is often used to describe excess or items that add no value to a situation, such as extraneous details in writing or unnecessary embellishments in art.
Strokes18Radical貝
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on minimalism and efficiency, especially in art and design. The concept of avoiding superfluity is reflected in traditional aesthetics, where simplicity is valued.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'zhuite' (druid-like figure) who decorates his home with so many unnecessary items that it becomes cluttered. The extra items, or '贅', symbolize the superfluous nature of his decorations.
Meanings of 贅
zhuì(zhui4)
1unnecessary, superfluous
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 贅
贅Simplified
18Strokes
貝Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 贅
Podcast: 贅
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 贅
Quick Contrast
冗 (rǒng) — use 贅 (zhuì) for unnecessary items or details that add no value, while 冗 (rǒng) emphasizes excess in terms of being overly verbose or lengthy.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'zhuite' (druid-like figure) who decorates his home with so many unnecessary items that it becomes cluttered. The extra items, or '贅', symbolize the superfluous nature of his decorations.
Usage Notes
贅 is often used in negative contexts to critique excess. Common collocations include 贅言 (superfluous words) and 贅物 (unnecessary items). Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words that have positive meanings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 贅 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK Level 5 words like 多余 (duōyú, excess) and 过剩 (guòshèng, surplus). Focus on understanding its usage in context and distinguishing it from related terms.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on minimalism and efficiency, especially in art and design. The concept of avoiding superfluity is reflected in traditional aesthetics, where simplicity is valued.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 贅 with similar characters like 罪 (zuì, crime), leading to incorrect phrases such as '贅人' instead of '罪人' (criminal). Ensure you distinguish between the meanings when constructing sentences.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 贅
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 贅 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 贅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 贅
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on minimalism and efficiency, especially in art and design. The concept of avoiding superfluity is reflected in traditional aesthetics, where simplicity is valued.
Word Family of 贅
Words Containing This Character13
累赘superfluous累贅
赘zhuìsuperfluous贅
赘述to say more than is necessary贅述
赘言superfluous words贅言
入赘to go and live with one's wife's family, in effect becoming a member of her family入贅
赘婿son-in-law living at wife's parent's house贅婿
赘疣wart贅疣
赘余superfluous贅餘
冗赘verbose冗贅
赘瘤useless贅瘤
疣赘wart疣贅
附赘悬疣superfluities附贅懸疣
赘词superfluous words贅詞
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 累赘 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 贅
You might say, '这篇文章有许多贅言' (This article has a lot of superfluous words).
贅 is generally used in formal contexts, especially in writing, to critique unnecessary elements.
You can link the sound 'zhuì' to 'cluttered' in your mind, as both imply a sense of excess.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 贅?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
