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唰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
唰shuāswish, rustlezg, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #40714, Very Hard
唰shuā(onom.) swishingunknown, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #40714, Very Hard
唰shuārustlingunknown, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #40714, Very Hard
shuā(shua1) T1
  1. 1swish, rustle
  2. 2(onom.) swishing
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

唰shuā(shua1)

The character 唰 (shuā) refers to the sound of swishing or rustling, often used to describe the noise made by objects moving quickly through the air or by leaves in the wind. It is commonly used in onomatopoeic expressions to convey a sense of quick motion or light, airy sounds.

Strokes11Radical口Frequency#40714DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the sound of rustling leaves or swishing water is often associated with tranquility and nature, reflecting the value placed on harmony and the natural world in Chinese aesthetics and poetry.

Memory Tip

Imagine a swift movement of a brush or a fan creating a 'swish' sound. The character 唰 has a sweeping motion in its shape, evoking the image of something rushing through the air, creating a rustling noise.

Meanings of 唰

shuā(shua1)
1swish, rustle
2(onom.) swishing
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 唰

唰Simplified
11Strokes
口Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 唰

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Podcast: 唰

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 唰

Quick Contrast

刷 (shuā, to brush) — use 唰 when emphasizing the sound of quick motion, while 刷 focuses on the action of brushing.

Usage Notes

This character is informal and is often used in descriptive contexts, such as storytelling or casual conversation. Learners should be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words or characters that convey different meanings. Common collocations include phrases that describe sounds in nature or movements.

HSK Study Tips

Although 唰 is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other onomatopoeic words at a similar level, such as 哗 (huā) for clattering. Students should focus on recognizing how sound-related characters are used in context.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 唰 with similar-sounding words like 刷 (shuā), which means 'to brush' or 'to swipe'. Remember that 唰 specifically refers to the sound of swishing or rustling, not the action itself.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 唰

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Etymology of 唰

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

mouth

Semantic (meaning)口
+
Phonetic (sound)刷
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 唰

  1. 1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half刷 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymouth
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 唰? 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 唰?

Decomposition of 唰

IDS Structure⿰口刷
唰Full Character
=
口kou3
left
刷shua1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 唰?

How to say swish, rustle in Chinese

“swish, rustle” in Chinese is唰shuā

The character 唰 (shuā) refers to the sound of swishing or rustling, often used to describe the noise made by objects moving quickly through the air or by leaves in the wind. It is commonly used in onomatopoeic expressions to convey a sense of quick motion or light, airy sounds.

When to use 唰

This character is informal and is often used in descriptive contexts, such as storytelling or casual conversation. Learners should be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words or characters that convey different meanings. Common collocations include phrases that describe sounds in nature or movements.

唰 or something close to it

刷 (shuā, to brush) — use 唰 when emphasizing the sound of quick motion, while 刷 focuses on the action of brushing.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 唰 with similar-sounding words like 刷 (shuā), which means 'to brush' or 'to swipe'. Remember that 唰 specifically refers to the sound of swishing or rustling, not the action itself.

Write 唰

唰

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 唰

Words Containing This Character1
唰shuārustling
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 唰 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 唰

It translates to 'swish' or 'rustle', often used to describe sounds made by quick movements.

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