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March 24, 2026
嗖sōu(sou1)
嗖 (sōu) is an onomatopoeic character that represents the sound of something swiftly moving through the air, such as a whistle or a rush of wind. It is commonly used to describe the sound made by objects like arrows or vehicles, evoking a sense of speed and suddenness in action.
Strokes12Radical口Frequency#21815DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the sound 嗖 is often used in literature and media to create vivid imagery, especially in martial arts stories where swift movements are frequent. It can also be heard in everyday life when describing fast vehicles or swift actions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a swift arrow zipping through the air, making a 'sōu' sound as it flies past. The character 嗖 resembles an arrow in motion, with its sharp edges suggesting speed, while the 'sōu' pronunciation captures the swift sound it makes.
Meanings of 嗖
sōu(sou1)
1a whizzing sound
2(onom.) whooshing
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 嗖
嗖Simplified
12Strokes
口Radical
拟声词onomatopoeia (onom.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嗖
Podcast: 嗖
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AI Study Notes for 嗖
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a swift arrow zipping through the air, making a 'sōu' sound as it flies past. The character 嗖 resembles an arrow in motion, with its sharp edges suggesting speed, while the 'sōu' pronunciation captures the swift sound it makes.
Usage Notes
嗖 is typically used in informal contexts to describe sounds associated with speed. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings; the tone is crucial, as it is pronounced with a high level tone. Common collocations include phrases describing swift actions or movements.
HSK Study Tips
Although 嗖 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be related to other onomatopoeic words at beginner levels. Focus on associating it with movements and sounds to improve your understanding of similar characters.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the sound 嗖 is often used in literature and media to create vivid imagery, especially in martial arts stories where swift movements are frequent. It can also be heard in everyday life when describing fast vehicles or swift actions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 嗖 by using the wrong tone, such as saying 'sǒu' instead of 'sōu', which alters its meaning. Another common mistake is using it in formal contexts where a more standard expression would be appropriate.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嗖
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Grammar Patterns of 嗖
嗖 functions as an onomatopoeic word — it imitates a sound. It often functions as an adverbial or stand-alone exclamation rather than a true verb or noun. It carries 4 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
Complete the Sentence
斯图尔特感觉有个瓶子从他头上____地一下飞了过去。
Stewart felt a bottle whizz past his head.
Example Sentences for 嗖 (7)
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1
斯图尔特感觉有个瓶子从他头上嗖地一下飞了过去。
sī tú ěr tè gǎn jué yǒu gè píng zǐ cóng tā tóu shàng sōu dì yī xià fēi le guò qù。
Stewart felt a bottle whizz past his head.
2
一辆车嗖地驶过朝海岸开去。
yī liàng chē sōu dì shǐ guò zhāo hǎi àn kāi qù。
A car swished by heading for the coast.
3
他嗖的一下子站起身来跑了出去。
tā sōu de yī xià zǐ zhàn qǐ shēn lái pǎo le chū qù。
He sprang to his feet and ran outside.
4
我嗖的一声坐到其中一张深红色的沙发上。
wǒ sōu de yī shēng zuò dào qí zhōng yī zhāng shēn hóng sè de shā fā shàng。
I plopped down on one of the dark red sofas.
5
我起身时一颗子弹嗖的一声从我背后擦过。
wǒ qǐ shēn shí yī kē zǐ dàn sōu de yī shēng cóng wǒ bèi hòu cā guò。
In Chinese culture, the sound 嗖 is often used in literature and media to create vivid imagery, especially in martial arts stories where swift movements are frequent. It can also be heard in everyday life when describing fast vehicles or swift actions.
Word Family of 嗖
Words Containing This Character2
嗖sōuswishing
嗖嗖swishing
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 嗖 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嗖
You can say, '他一箭射出，嗖地一声飞了出去' (He shot the arrow, and with a whoosh, it flew out).
No, 嗖 is an informal expression and is typically used in spoken language or creative writing.
While 嗖 primarily describes swift sounds, it can also convey a sense of suddenness in other contexts, like rustling skirts or the swish of fabric.
