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March 24, 2026
摔shuāi(shuai1)
The character 摔 (shuāi) primarily means 'to throw down' or 'to fall.' It is often used in contexts where something is dropped or breaks upon falling, as well as when someone stumbles or trips. This verb carries a sense of abruptness and can imply an element of danger or a sudden loss of control.
Strokes14Radical扌Frequency#1887DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, physical expressions of emotion, like falling or stumbling, can be tied to superstitions or beliefs about luck. For instance, tripping can be seen as a bad omen, which makes the use of 摔 in storytelling or conversation particularly poignant.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (representing '人', which is a common radical) who accidentally throws down a fragile vase (the '摔' character suggests a downward motion). Picture the vase tumbling and shattering on the ground, emphasizing the action of 'throwing down' and the sound of 'shattered' linking to the pronunciation 'shuāi.'
Meanings of 摔
shuāi(shuai1)
1to throw down
2to fall
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 摔
摔Simplified
14Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1887Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 摔
Podcast: 摔
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AI Study Notes for 摔
Quick Contrast
摔 (shuāi) vs 跌 (diē) — use 摔 when emphasizing the act of throwing down or the abruptness of falling, whereas 跌 focuses more on the action of falling itself.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the context when using 摔, as it can denote both intentional and unintentional actions. It is more common in informal settings, so be careful when using it in formal speech. A common collocation is 摔倒 (shuāi dǎo), which means 'to fall down.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 摔 is not specifically listed in the HSK levels, it connects with other verbs that describe motion and actions. For HSK learners, focusing on its usage with other movement-related verbs will enhance comprehension. Practice using it in sentences about accidents or mishaps to solidify understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 摔 with the more general term 倒 (dǎo). For instance, saying '我摔倒' (wǒ shuāi dǎo) is correct, but using 摔 incorrectly in a context that doesn't imply 'throwing down' can lead to confusion. Always ensure the context suggests a sudden fall or drop.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 摔
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Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 率 represents the sound.
1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
2The sound half率 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayhand
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 摔? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 摔?
Decomposition of 摔
IDS Structure⿰扌率
摔Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
率lü4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 摔?
How to say to throw down in Chinese
“to throw down” in Chinese is摔shuāi
The character 摔 (shuāi) primarily means 'to throw down' or 'to fall.' It is often used in contexts where something is dropped or breaks upon falling, as well as when someone stumbles or trips. This verb carries a sense of abruptness and can imply an element of danger or a sudden loss of control.
When to use 摔
Be mindful of the context when using 摔, as it can denote both intentional and unintentional actions. It is more common in informal settings, so be careful when using it in formal speech. A common collocation is 摔倒 (shuāi dǎo), which means 'to fall down.'
摔 or something close to it
摔 (shuāi) vs 跌 (diē) — use 摔 when emphasizing the act of throwing down or the abruptness of falling, whereas 跌 focuses more on the action of falling itself.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 摔 with the more general term 倒 (dǎo). For instance, saying '我摔倒' (wǒ shuāi dǎo) is correct, but using 摔 incorrectly in a context that doesn't imply 'throwing down' can lead to confusion. Always ensure the context suggests a sudden fall or drop.
Write 摔
摔
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Grammar Patterns of 摔
摔 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 4 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.
