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March 24, 2026
擻sǒu(sou3)
The character 擻 (sǒu) means to tremble, shake, quake, or flutter. It is often used to describe a gentle or light movement, such as leaves fluttering in the wind or something quaking due to fear. This character can convey both physical movements and emotional states, adding nuance to descriptions of motion.
Strokes18Radical扌Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese poetry, the image of leaves fluttering or trembling is often used to evoke feelings of nostalgia or longing, indicating a deeper emotional resonance connected to nature.
Memory Tip
Imagine a soft breeze (风) causing a delicate flower (花) to tremble and flutter. The 's' sound in 'sǒu' can remind you of the sound of the wind as it shakes things gently, connecting the character's form and meaning.
Meanings of 擻
sǒu(sou3)
1to tremble, to shake, to quake, to flutter
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About 擻
擻Simplified
18Strokes
扌Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 擻
Podcast: 擻
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AI Study Notes for 擻
Quick Contrast
抖 (dǒu) - use 擻 (sǒu) for gentle or light movements, while 抖 (dǒu) implies a more vigorous or intense shaking.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a soft breeze (风) causing a delicate flower (花) to tremble and flutter. The 's' sound in 'sǒu' can remind you of the sound of the wind as it shakes things gently, connecting the character's form and meaning.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 擻 with similar characters like 颤 (chàn), which specifically means to tremble in a more intense way. This word is more often used in literary or poetic contexts rather than everyday conversation, so be mindful of the register when using it.
HSK Study Tips
Although 擻 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be connected to words related to movement or emotion found at lower HSK levels. Focus on understanding its usage in various contexts to enhance your vocabulary depth.
Cultural Note
In Chinese poetry, the image of leaves fluttering or trembling is often used to evoke feelings of nostalgia or longing, indicating a deeper emotional resonance connected to nature.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 擻 with the character 抖 (dǒu), which implies a more forceful shaking. For instance, saying '我擻了我的手' (I shook my hand) should be corrected to '我抖了我的手' for clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 擻
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Cultural Notes for 擻
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese poetry, the image of leaves fluttering or trembling is often used to evoke feelings of nostalgia or longing, indicating a deeper emotional resonance connected to nature.
Word Family of 擻
Words Containing This Character4
精神抖擞full of energy精神抖擻
擞sǒushake擻
抖擞精神to gather one's spirits抖擻精神
抖擞to rouse抖擻
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 精神抖擞 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 擻
You can say '树叶在风中擻动' (The leaves tremble in the wind) to illustrate its meaning.
It is more frequently found in written or poetic contexts than in everyday conversation.
Synonyms include 震动 (zhèndòng) for shaking and 摇动 (yáodòng) for swaying.
