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孰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
孰shúwho? which? what? which one?r, 11 strokes, radical 子, rank #16054, Very Hard
孰shúwhounknown, 11 strokes, radical 子, rank #16054, Very Hard
孰shúwhichunknown, 11 strokes, radical 子, rank #16054, Very Hard
孰shúwhatunknown, 11 strokes, radical 子, rank #16054, Very Hard
shú(shu2)shu T2
  1. 1who? which? what? which one?
  2. 2who
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March 24, 2026

孰shú(shu2)

The character 孰 (shú) is used to ask questions concerning identity or choice, often translating to 'who,' 'which,' or 'what' in English. It is commonly used in literary or formal contexts, making it less frequent in everyday conversation. Its nuanced meaning can imply a sense of comparison or selection among options.

Strokes11Radical子Frequency#16054DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In classical Chinese literature, 孰 often appears in philosophical discussions, reflecting a deeper inquiry into identity and existence, showcasing the importance of knowledge and wisdom in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Think of 孰 (shú) as a detective asking 'Who's who?' in a crowd to identify the person he is looking for. The radical 孑 suggests a focus on people, while the top part resembles a questioning face, emphasizing inquiry.

Meanings of 孰

shú(shu2)
1who? which? what? which one?
2who
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 孰

孰Simplified
11Strokes
子Radical
代词dàicípronoun (pron.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 孰

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Podcast: 孰

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AI Study Notes for 孰

Quick Contrast

谁 (shéi) vs 孰 (shú) — choose 孰 for formal or literary contexts, while 谁 is more common in everyday speech.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 孰 with the more common 谁 (shéi), which is used for 'who' in everyday speech. 孰 tends to be more formal or literary, often appearing in written texts or classical literature. Remember to maintain the correct tone when using it in questions.

HSK Study Tips

Although 孰 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other question words like 谁 (shéi) and 何 (hé). Focus on understanding its usage in context, particularly in classical texts, to enhance your reading skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistake 孰 for 谁 (shéi) and use it in informal contexts, such as saying '孰是你?' when they should say '谁是你?' to ask 'Who are you?'. Remember that 孰 is more suitable for formal discussions.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 孰

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Etymology of 孰

Explanation

Origin unclear. Possibly depicts a person offering food at a temple.

Learn more about character formation (六书)

Decomposition of 孰

IDS Structure⿰享丸
孰Full character
=
享xiang3
left
丸wan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 孰?

How to say who? which? what? which one? in Chinese

“who? which? what? which one?” in Chinese is孰shú

The character 孰 (shú) is used to ask questions concerning identity or choice, often translating to 'who,' 'which,' or 'what' in English. It is commonly used in literary or formal contexts, making it less frequent in everyday conversation. Its nuanced meaning can imply a sense of comparison or selection among options.

When to use 孰

Be cautious not to confuse 孰 with the more common 谁 (shéi), which is used for 'who' in everyday speech. 孰 tends to be more formal or literary, often appearing in written texts or classical literature. Remember to maintain the correct tone when using it in questions.

孰 or something close to it

谁 (shéi) vs 孰 (shú) — choose 孰 for formal or literary contexts, while 谁 is more common in everyday speech.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistake 孰 for 谁 (shéi) and use it in informal contexts, such as saying '孰是你?' when they should say '谁是你?' to ask 'Who are you?'. Remember that 孰 is more suitable for formal discussions.

Write 孰

孰

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

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Word Family of 孰

Words containing this character1
孰shúwho

Frequently Asked Questions about 孰

You can use 孰 in a question like '孰为好?' (Which one is good?).

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