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守 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
守
shǒu
to guard
HSK 5, v, 6 strokes, radical 宀, rank #2016, Hard
守
shǒu
to defend
HSK 5, v, 6 strokes, radical 宀, rank #2016, Hard
守
shǒu
to keep watch
HSK 5, v, 6 strokes, radical 宀, rank #2016, Hard
守
shǒu
to abide by the law
HSK 5, v, 6 strokes, radical 宀, rank #2016, Hard
守
shǒu
to observe (rules or ritual)
HSK 5, v, 6 strokes, radical 宀, rank #2016, Hard
守
shǒu
nearby
HSK 5, v, 6 strokes, radical 宀, rank #2016, Hard
守
shǒu
adjoining
HSK 5, v, 6 strokes, radical 宀, rank #2016, Hard
守
shǒu
to defend, to guard, to protect; to conserve; to wait
HSK 5, v, 6 strokes, radical 宀, rank #2016, Hard
shǒu(shou3)shou T3
1to guard
2to defend
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March 24, 2026
守shǒu(shou3)
The character 守 (shǒu) primarily means 'to guard' or 'to defend.' It is commonly used in contexts involving protection, maintaining order, or adhering to laws and rituals. This character embodies a sense of vigilance and responsibility, making it applicable in both physical and moral contexts.
Strokes6Radical宀Frequency#2016DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of guarding and observing rituals is significant, especially during festivals and ceremonies, where adherence to traditions is paramount. The character reflects the importance placed on duty and social responsibility.
Memory tip
Imagine a vigilant guard (守) standing by a wall (the character has a radical for 'to defend' on the left). You can associate the sound 'shǒu' with the English word 'show'—picture the guard showing their presence as they watch over what they protect.
Meanings of 守
shǒu(shou3)
1to guard
2to defend
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 守
守Simplified
6Strokes
宀Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2016Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 守
Podcast: 守
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AI study notes for 守
Quick Contrast
守 (shǒu) vs 保 (bǎo) — use 守 when emphasizing guarding or defending, while 保 focuses on protecting or ensuring safety.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 守 (shǒu) with other characters that have similar pronunciations but different meanings, such as 手 (shǒu, meaning 'hand'). 守 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in phrases regarding law or rules, like 守法 (shǒufǎ, meaning 'to abide by the law').
HSK Study Tips
While 守 is not part of the official HSK levels, it connects with vocabulary about law and morality, which may appear in HSK 4 and above. Focus on its various usages in sentences to grasp its flexibility and contextual meanings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 守 (shǒu) with the similar-sounding 手 (shǒu), which means 'hand.' It is important to remember that 守 pertains to guarding or observing, while 手 relates to physical body parts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 守
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The character 守 (shǒu) primarily means 'to guard' or 'to defend.' It is commonly used in contexts involving protection, maintaining order, or adhering to laws and rituals. This character embodies a sense of vigilance and responsibility, making it applicable in both physical and moral contexts.
When to use 守
Be careful not to confuse 守 (shǒu) with other characters that have similar pronunciations but different meanings, such as 手 (shǒu, meaning 'hand'). 守 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in phrases regarding law or rules, like 守法 (shǒufǎ, meaning 'to abide by the law').
守 or something close to it
守 (shǒu) vs 保 (bǎo) — use 守 when emphasizing guarding or defending, while 保 focuses on protecting or ensuring safety.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 守 (shǒu) with the similar-sounding 手 (shǒu), which means 'hand.' It is important to remember that 守 pertains to guarding or observing, while 手 relates to physical body parts.
Write 守
守
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Practice writing 守 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 守
守 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 8 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.
Don'tworry, Mr Palin, your secret is safe with me.
2
他可能过于保守，而不是过于宽宏大量。
tā kěnéng guòyú bǎoshǒu， ér bùshì guòyú kuān hóngdà liáng。
He probably erred on the conservative rather than the generous side.
3
比赛形势决定了他们要打防守战而不是进攻战。
bǐsài xíngshì juédìng le tāmen yào dǎ fángshǒu zhàn ér bùshì jìngōng zhàn。
Circumstances dictated that they played a defensive rather than attacking game.
4
她这一辈子都恪守这些原则。
tā zhè yíbèizi dōu kè shǒu zhèxiē yuánzé。
She has cleaved to these principles all her life.
5
这实质上是一种狭隘的、因循守旧的照顾孩子的方法。
zhè shízhì shàng shì yī zhǒng xiá’ài de、 yīn xún shǒu jiù de zhàogù háizi de fāngfǎ。
It is essentially a narrow and conservative approach to child care.
6
我们张贴了一份房屋生活守则。
wǒmen zhāngtiē le yī fèn fángwū shēnghuó shǒu zé。
We post up a set of rules for the house.
7
《华尔街日报》的一篇社论概述了很多保守派人士的观点。
《 huā ěr jiē rìbào》 de yī piān shèlùn gài shù le hěn duō bǎoshǒu pài rénshì de guāndiǎn。
A Wall Street Journal editorial encapsulated the views of many conservatives.
8
泰勒的运动生涯是从一名业余守门员开始的。
tài lè de yùndòng shēngyá shì cóng yī míng yèyú shǒu mén yuán kāishǐ de。
Taylor began his playing career as an amateur goalkeeper.
9
协会的所有成员都遵守一套严格的行为规范。
xiéhuì de suǒyǒu chéngyuán dōu zūnshǒu yī tào yángé de xíngwéi guīfàn。
All members of the association adhere to a strict code of practice.
10
他为某些思想较守旧的官员所憎恶。
tā wèi mǒu xiē sīxiǎng jiào shǒu jiù de guānyuán suǒ zēng è。
He is loathed by some of the more traditionally minded officers.
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Word Family of 守
Compounds3
狩shòuwinter hunting; a hunting dog; an imperial tour
垨shǒu
酧chóu
Words containing this character20
守shǒuto guard
防守fángshǒuto defend
遵守zūnshǒuto comply with
保守bǎoshǒuconservative
守护shǒuhùto guard守護
守卫shǒuwèito guard守衛
看守kānshǒuto guard
坚守jiānshǒuto hold fast to堅守
守候shǒuhòuto wait for
留守liúshǒuto stay behind to take care of things
守门员shǒuményuángoalkeeper守門員
守则shǒuzérules守則
守法shǒufǎto abide by the law
信守xìnshǒuto abide by
守护神shǒuhùshénprotector God守護神
看守所kānshǒusuǒdetention center
玩忽职守wánhūzhíshǒuto neglect one's duty玩忽職守
守口如瓶shǒukǒurúpíngreticent
把守bǎshǒuto guard
太守tàishǒugovernor of a province
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 守
What does 狩 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 守
Common phrases include 守法 (shǒufǎ), meaning 'to abide by the law,' and 守时 (shǒushí), which means 'to be punctual.' These phrases illustrate the character's usage in contexts of adherence and guardianship.
Yes, 守 is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially in contexts related to protection, law, and observance of rules. You'll often hear it in discussions about responsibilities and duties.
守 (shǒu) means to guard, defend, or keep watch. It can also refer to abiding by the law or observing rules and rituals. This character is used in various contexts, including personal and legal situations.
You can use 守 (shǒu) in sentences like '我守护我的家' (Wǒ shǒuhù wǒ de jiā), which means 'I guard my home.' It's commonly used to express the action of protecting or observing something important.
Common phrases include 守法 (shǒufǎ, 'to abide by the law') and 守规矩 (shǒu guījǔ, 'to observe rules').
It is pronounced as 'shǒu' with a third tone, which sounds like a falling-rising pitch.
Yes, 守 is often used in legal contexts to indicate adherence to laws or regulations.
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