house, dwelling; to reside, to dwell; to abandon, to give up
zg, 11 strokes, radical 扌, Very Hard
shě(she3) T3
1house, dwelling; to reside, to dwell; to abandon, to give up
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March 24, 2026
捨shě(she3)
The character 捨 (shě) primarily conveys the meaning of abandoning or giving up something. It is often used in contexts where one must relinquish a possession, relationship, or idea, highlighting a sense of loss or sacrifice in the process. This character can also refer to dwelling or residing, particularly in a poetic or historical sense.
Strokes11Radical扌Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of sacrifice is deeply respected. The idea of 捨 often appears in discussions about letting go of material possessions for greater spiritual or communal benefits, reflecting values of selflessness.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person at a train station, holding onto their suitcase tightly, representing 'dwelling' or 'residing'. Suddenly, they decide to leave it behind, symbolizing 'abandoning' something important. The character 捨 has the radical for 'hand' (扌) suggesting the action of letting go.
Meanings of 捨
shě(she3)
1house, dwelling; to reside, to dwell; to abandon, to give up
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 捨
捨Simplified
11Strokes
扌Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 捨
Podcast: 捨
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AI Study Notes for 捨
Quick Contrast
舍 (shè) - use 捨 (shě) when emphasizing the act of giving up or abandoning something, whereas 舍 (shè) often refers to a dwelling or residence.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person at a train station, holding onto their suitcase tightly, representing 'dwelling' or 'residing'. Suddenly, they decide to leave it behind, symbolizing 'abandoning' something important. The character 捨 has the radical for 'hand' (扌) suggesting the action of letting go.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 捨 with the similar-sounding 捨不得 (shě bù dé), which means 'to be reluctant to part with'. It's important to note that 捨 is more direct, while 捨不得 conveys emotional attachment. Use 捨 in informal contexts for everyday expressions of giving up.
HSK Study Tips
While 捨 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with concepts of sacrifice and loss often found at HSK Level 4. Students should focus on the emotional nuances of the word and practice using it in sentences related to personal experiences of giving up.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of sacrifice is deeply respected. The idea of 捨 often appears in discussions about letting go of material possessions for greater spiritual or communal benefits, reflecting values of selflessness.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 捨 when they mean 'to hesitate' or 'to be reluctant', which actually requires the phrase 捨不得 (shě bù dé). For example, saying '我捨不得他的建议' (Wǒ shě bù dé tā de jiànyì) correctly conveys reluctance, whereas using just 捨 would be incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 捨
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六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 余 represents the sound. 口 (mouth) indicates that the character is only "mouthed", i.e. only used for its phonetic value.
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Cultural Notes for 捨
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of sacrifice is deeply respected. The idea of 捨 often appears in discussions about letting go of material possessions for greater spiritual or communal benefits, reflecting values of selflessness.
Word Family of 捨
Words Containing This Character19
宿舍sùshèdormitory
舍shěto give up捨
舍不得shěbudeto hate to do sth捨不得
舍得shědeto be willing to part with sth捨得
施舍to give in charity施捨
舍弃to give up捨棄
校舍school building
取舍to choose取捨
割舍to give up割捨
农舍farmhouse農舍
寒舍my humble home
舍命to risk one's life捨命
依依不舍yīyībùshěreluctant to part (idiom); broken-hearted at having to leave依依不捨
香榭丽舍Champs Élysées香榭麗舍
锲而不舍qiè’érbùshěto persevere鍥而不捨
老舍Lao She (1899-1966), Chinese novelist and dramatist
恋恋不舍liànliànbùshěreluctant to part戀戀不捨
舍身to give one's life捨身
房舍house
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 宿舍 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 捨
In a sentence, 捨 can mean 'to abandon', such as in '我舍弃了我的旧手机' (Wǒ shěqìle wǒ de jiù shǒujī), meaning 'I abandoned my old phone'.
捨 is often used in expressions related to giving up or relinquishing something, like a job or a habit, and can express a sense of loss.
Yes, while less common, 捨 can imply dwelling or residing, particularly in literary contexts.
