Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
庶 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
庶shùnumerous, various; multituden, 11 strokes, radical 广, rank #57248, Very Hard
庶shùcommon people (or populace)unknown, 11 strokes, radical 广, rank #57248, Very Hard
庶shùborn of a concubineunknown, 11 strokes, radical 广, rank #57248, Very Hard
shù(shu4)shu T4
  1. 1numerous, various; multitude
  2. 2common people (or populace)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

庶shù(shu4)

The character 庶 (shù) primarily refers to a large number or variety of things, indicating a sense of multitude or commonality. In historical contexts, it can also refer to common people or those born of a concubine, emphasizing social distinctions in Chinese society.

Strokes11Radical广Frequency#57248DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese society, the concept of concubinage was prevalent, and the term 庶 reflects the social hierarchy and distinctions between legitimate children and those born to concubines. This historical context is significant in understanding familial structures in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bustling market (庶) filled with various stalls (the roof radical 宀 represents shelter, like a market) where numerous people gather. 'Shù' sounds like 'shoo', as if you're shooing away the common crowd to make space for yourself.

Meanings of 庶

shù(shu4)
1numerous, various; multitude
2common people (or populace)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 庶 means.

About 庶

庶Simplified
11Strokes
广Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 庶

JasonAmy

Podcast: 庶

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 庶

Quick Contrast

庶 (shù) vs 众 (zhòng): Use 庶 when referring to commonality or multitude in a historical or social context, while 众 emphasizes a general sense of many or a crowd.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with using 庶 in modern contexts, as its association with concubines may not always be appropriate. It's more common in literary or historical discussions rather than everyday speech. Collocations include '庶民' (common people) and '庶务' (various affairs).

HSK Study Tips

Though not included in the official HSK list, 庶 can be connected to HSK vocabulary related to people and society. Focus on understanding its use in historical texts and literature to grasp its full nuance.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 庶 with 庶民 (shùmín) when trying to refer to 'common people' but forget the context. Remember that 庶 alone can carry different meanings and is less commonly used in everyday conversation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 庶

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 庶 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 庶 to You

Let me explain 庶 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 庶 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 庶?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 庶 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 庶

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Depicts a stone pot (石) over a fire (灬). Based on the original meaning "to cook; boil", now written as 煮. The current meaning is a phonetic loan. 石 also serves as a sound component.

Memory Hint

Many people 灬 (twenty or more 廿) in a house 广

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 庶?

Decomposition of 庶

IDS Structure⿸广⿱廿灬
庶Full Character
=
广Guang3
enclosing
廿nian4
top
灬huo3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 庶?

How to say numerous, various; multitude in Chinese

“numerous, various; multitude” in Chinese is庶shù

The character 庶 (shù) primarily refers to a large number or variety of things, indicating a sense of multitude or commonality. In historical contexts, it can also refer to common people or those born of a concubine, emphasizing social distinctions in Chinese society.

When to use 庶

Be cautious with using 庶 in modern contexts, as its association with concubines may not always be appropriate. It's more common in literary or historical discussions rather than everyday speech. Collocations include '庶民' (common people) and '庶务' (various affairs).

庶 or something close to it

庶 (shù) vs 众 (zhòng): Use 庶 when referring to commonality or multitude in a historical or social context, while 众 emphasizes a general sense of many or a crowd.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 庶 with 庶民 (shùmín) when trying to refer to 'common people' but forget the context. Remember that 庶 alone can carry different meanings and is less commonly used in everyday conversation.

Write 庶

庶

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 庶?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Word Family of 庶

Words Containing This Character6
庶shùnumerous
庶民plebeian
富庶populous and affluent
庶子bastard
庶几similar庶幾
黎庶populace
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 庶

What does 庶民 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 庶

In modern Chinese, 庶 is less commonly used, but it can still imply a multitude or refer to common people, especially in literary contexts.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 庶?

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.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab