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March 24, 2026
殊shū(shu1)
The character 殊 (shū) primarily means 'different' or 'special,' often used to describe something that stands out or is unique compared to others. In certain contexts, it can also imply surpassing or distinguishing oneself from a group. Additionally, in classical usage, it refers to actions such as beheading or cutting off, adding a historical nuance.
Strokes10Radical歹Frequency#27285DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of being '不同' (bùtóng, 'different') is often celebrated in contexts such as art and innovation, making 殊 relevant in discussions about individualism and creativity. Its historical connotations can also be reflected in literature discussing themes of sacrifice and separation.
Memory Tip
Imagine a unique tree (represented by 殊) standing alone in a field, different from all the other trees. The radical 歹 (dǎi) at the bottom hints at its historical ties to actions like cutting off, while the upper part suggests its distinctiveness. Remembering 'shū' could be linked to 'shoe'—think of a special shoe that stands out among ordinary ones.
Meanings of 殊
shū(shu1)
1different
2unique
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 殊
殊Simplified
10Strokes
歹Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#27285Frequency Rank
Podcast: 殊
Podcast: 殊
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AI Study Notes for 殊
Quick Contrast
不同 (bùtóng) vs 特殊 (tèshū) — use 殊 to emphasize a unique or distinguishing characteristic over merely being different (不同) or special (特殊).
Usage Notes
When using 殊, learners should be cautious with its context; it is more commonly used in written Chinese than in spoken language. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words, so pay attention to its specific uses in phrases like '殊不知' (shū bù zhī) meaning 'little did one know.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 殊 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with other HSK 4 words that describe uniqueness or differences, such as 特色 (tèsè, 'characteristic'). Focus on understanding its varied meanings and practice using it in sentences to grasp its nuances.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 殊 with similar characters like 书 (shū, 'book') due to phonetic similarity. An incorrect sentence might be '我喜欢这本殊' instead of '我喜欢这本书' (I like this book).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 殊
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Drill the tone of 殊 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 歹 represents the meaning and 朱 represents the sound.
1The meaning half歹 carries the sense.
2The sound half朱 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaydepraved
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 殊? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
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Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 殊?
Decomposition of 殊
IDS Structure⿰歹朱
殊Full Character
=
歹dai3
left
朱Zhu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 殊?
How to say different in Chinese
“different” in Chinese is殊shū
The character 殊 (shū) primarily means 'different' or 'special,' often used to describe something that stands out or is unique compared to others. In certain contexts, it can also imply surpassing or distinguishing oneself from a group. Additionally, in classical usage, it refers to actions such as beheading or cutting off, adding a historical nuance.
When to use 殊
When using 殊, learners should be cautious with its context; it is more commonly used in written Chinese than in spoken language. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words, so pay attention to its specific uses in phrases like '殊不知' (shū bù zhī) meaning 'little did one know.'
殊 or something close to it
不同 (bùtóng) vs 特殊 (tèshū) — use 殊 to emphasize a unique or distinguishing characteristic over merely being different (不同) or special (特殊).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 殊 with similar characters like 书 (shū, 'book') due to phonetic similarity. An incorrect sentence might be '我喜欢这本殊' instead of '我喜欢这本书' (I like this book).
Write 殊
殊
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Grammar Patterns of 殊
殊 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 10 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.
Nearly a year later, it was agreed that Tom would be statemented.
Word Family of 殊
Words Containing This Character11
特殊tèshūspecial
悬殊xuánshūwidely different懸殊
殊shūunique
殊荣special glory殊榮
殊不知little imagined
殊死to behead
特殊教育special education
殊途同归different routes to the same destination (idiom); fig. different means of achieve the same end殊途同歸
殊异entirely different殊異
苏曼殊Su Manshu (1884-1918), Chinese writer, journalist, Buddhist monk, participant in the revolutionary movement蘇曼殊
众寡悬殊unequally matched眾寡懸殊
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 特殊 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 殊
While both 殊 (shū) and 特 (tè) convey the idea of being special or unique, 殊 often implies a difference in kind or quality, whereas 特 emphasizes something being exceptional or distinguished. For example, 特别 (tèbié) means 'especially' or 'particularly', and is more commonly used in everyday language.
Yes, 殊 is still used in modern Chinese, though it may appear more frequently in literary or formal contexts. It conveys a sense of uniqueness or difference and can be found in various idiomatic expressions.
殊 (shū) means 'different,' 'unique,' or 'special' in Chinese. It can also be used in a classical context to refer to actions like beheading or dying. The character conveys a sense of distinction or uniqueness in various contexts.
You can use 殊 in sentences to emphasize uniqueness or difference. For example, '这件事很殊' (Zhè jiàn shì hěn shū) translates to 'This matter is very special.' It can also be used in phrases like '殊不知' (shū bù zhī), meaning 'little do we know' or 'unbeknownst to'.
In a sentence, 殊 can be used like this: '这道菜非常殊' (This dish is very unique).
It is pronounced as 'shū', with a flat tone.
It is less common in everyday speech but can be used in written contexts or formal discussions.
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