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恕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
恕shùto forgiveHSK 7, nr, 10 strokes, radical 心, rank #3782, Very Hard
恕shùto excuse, to forgive, to show mercyHSK 7, nr, 10 strokes, radical 心, rank #3782, Very Hard
shù(shu4)shu T4
  1. 1to forgive
  2. 2to excuse, to forgive, to show mercy
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March 24, 2026

恕shù(shu4)

The character 恕 (shù) means 'to forgive' or 'to excuse.' It is often used in contexts where someone is asked to show mercy or leniency, indicating a compassionate attitude towards others' mistakes or shortcomings. This term is commonly associated with moral and ethical discussions in Chinese culture.

Strokes10Radical心Frequency#3782DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Confucianism, the value of forgiveness is emphasized as a virtue that maintains harmony in relationships. The character 恕 is often mentioned in classical texts that discuss moral behavior and personal conduct.

Memory Tip

Imagine the character 恕 as a heart (心) that is open to understanding a mistake (亻). Picture a person (亻) standing in front of a heart (心), ready to forgive. The pronunciation 'shù' sounds like 'shoo,' as if you're gently shooing away anger and resentment.

Meanings of 恕

shù(shu4)
1to forgive
2to excuse, to forgive, to show mercy
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 恕 means.

About 恕

恕Simplified
10Strokes
心Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#3782Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7

Podcast: 恕

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Podcast: 恕

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AI Study Notes for 恕

Quick Contrast

宽恕 (kuān shù, to forgive, to pardon) - use 恕 when emphasizing the act of excusing someone, while 宽恕 often implies a broader sense of forgiveness.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context in which you use 恕; it is more formal and is often seen in written language or serious discussions. A common collocation is 恕容 (shùróng), meaning 'to forgive and tolerate.' Avoid using it in casual conversations where simpler terms may suffice.

HSK Study Tips

Although 恕 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with HSK Level 4 words related to morality and ethics, such as 忍 (rěn, to endure) and 体谅 (tǐliàng, to understand). Focus on using 恕 in sentences that express understanding and compassion.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 恕 with 原谅 (yuánliàng), as both mean 'to forgive,' but 恕 conveys a deeper sense of moral responsibility. For instance, saying '我恕你' (wǒ shù nǐ) can sound awkward; instead, use '我原谅你' (wǒ yuánliàng nǐ) for everyday situations.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 恕

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Etymology of 恕

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

Phonosemantic compound. 心 represents the meaning and 如 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

heart

Semantic (meaning)心
+
Phonetic (sound)如
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

恕 = 心 + 如. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 恕

IDS Structure⿱如心
恕Full Character
=
如ru2
top
心xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 恕?

How to say to forgive in Chinese

“to forgive” in Chinese is恕shù

The character 恕 (shù) means 'to forgive' or 'to excuse.' It is often used in contexts where someone is asked to show mercy or leniency, indicating a compassionate attitude towards others' mistakes or shortcomings. This term is commonly associated with moral and ethical discussions in Chinese culture.

When to use 恕

Be mindful of the context in which you use 恕; it is more formal and is often seen in written language or serious discussions. A common collocation is 恕容 (shùróng), meaning 'to forgive and tolerate.' Avoid using it in casual conversations where simpler terms may suffice.

恕 or something close to it

宽恕 (kuān shù, to forgive, to pardon) - use 恕 when emphasizing the act of excusing someone, while 宽恕 often implies a broader sense of forgiveness.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 恕 with 原谅 (yuánliàng), as both mean 'to forgive,' but 恕 conveys a deeper sense of moral responsibility. For instance, saying '我恕你' (wǒ shù nǐ) can sound awkward; instead, use '我原谅你' (wǒ yuánliàng nǐ) for everyday situations.

Write 恕

恕

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

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Grammar Patterns of 恕

恕 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 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 5

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

____我直言,那根本就不重要。

That, if you'll pardon my saying so, is neither here nor there.

Example Sentences for 恕 (6)

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1
恕我直言,那根本就不重要。

shù wǒ zhí yán, , nà gēn běn jiù bù zhòng。

That, if you'll pardon my saying so, is neither here nor there.
2
恕我直言,那听起来不太符合常规。

shù wǒ zhí yán, , nà tīng qǐ lái bù tài fú hé cháng。

It doesn't sound exactly orthodox, if I may say so.
3
恕我直言,您错了。

shù wǒ zhí yán, , nín cuò。

With all due respect, you're wrong.
4
我止住了他那种卑躬屈节的神气, 告诉他,我饶恕了他.

wǒ zhǐ zhù le tā nà zhǒng bēi gōng qū jié de shén qì, , gào sù, tā , wǒ ráo shù.

I abated his cringes, told him I forgave him.
5
" 饶恕我吧, 亲爱的, " 她亲切地说, 一面伸出她的两臂.

" " ráo shù wǒ, bā , qīn," ài de , " tā qīn, qiē dì shuō , yī miàn shēn chū.

" Forgive me, darling,'she said gently, putting out her arms.
6
他跪在地板上请求宽恕。

tā guì zài dì bǎn shàng qǐng qiú kuān shù。

He was kneeling on the floor pleading for mercy.

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Word Family of 恕

Words Containing This Character4
恕shùto forgive
宽恕kuānshùto forgive寬恕
饶恕ráoshùto forgive饒恕
恕罪please forgive me
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 恕

What does 宽恕 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 恕

You can say, '请恕我冒犯了您' (Qǐng shù wǒ màofàn le nín), meaning 'Please forgive me for offending you.'

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