Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
淑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
淑shūgood, pure, virtuous; charmingHSK 7, n, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #23142, Very Hard
淑shūwarm and virtuousHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #23142, Very Hard
淑shū(used in given names)HSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #23142, Very Hard
淑shūTaiwan pr. [shu2]HSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #23142, Very Hard
shū(shu1)shu T1
  1. 1good, pure, virtuous; charming
  2. 2warm and virtuous
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

淑shū(shu1)

The character 淑 (shū) conveys the meaning of being good, pure, and virtuous. It is often used to describe someone who is charming and has a warm personality, especially in the context of names, where it denotes positive qualities.

Strokes11Radical氵Frequency#23142DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, virtues such as purity and goodness are highly valued, and the character 淑 is often found in women’s names, symbolizing the ideal qualities of a gentle and virtuous woman.

Memory tip

Imagine a serene stream (水, shuǐ) flowing gently, representing purity and goodness. The character 淑 has water (氵) on the left, symbolizing the nurturing qualities of water, combined with the right side (熟), which hints at maturity and virtue. Together, they create an image of a pure-hearted person.

Meanings of 淑

shū(shu1)
1good, pure, virtuous; charming
2warm and virtuous
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 淑 means.

About 淑

淑Simplified
11Strokes
氵Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 淑

JasonAmy

Podcast: 淑

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 淑

Quick Contrast

善 (shàn) — use 淑 when emphasizing charm and virtue in a warm personality, while 善 focuses more on goodness and moral integrity.

Usage Notes

淑 is often used in formal contexts, particularly in names, and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Be careful with the tone; it should always be pronounced as shū (first tone) to convey the correct meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although this character is not part of the standard HSK levels, it may be useful for students to recognize it in names or literature. Focus on its usage in context, especially in phrases that involve virtue or positive character traits.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 淑 with similar-sounding characters. For example, some might say 'shú' (second tone) instead of 'shū' (first tone), which changes the meaning. Always use the first tone to maintain its intended virtuous connotation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 淑

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 淑 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 淑 to You

Let me explain 淑 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 淑 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 淑?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 淑 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 淑

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

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 叔 represents the sound.

Memory hint

water

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

Origin

淑 = 氵 + 叔. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 淑

IDS Structure⿰氵叔
淑Full character
=
氵shui3
left
叔shu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 淑?

How to say good, pure, virtuous; charming in Chinese

“good, pure, virtuous; charming” in Chinese is淑shū

The character 淑 (shū) conveys the meaning of being good, pure, and virtuous. It is often used to describe someone who is charming and has a warm personality, especially in the context of names, where it denotes positive qualities.

When to use 淑

淑 is often used in formal contexts, particularly in names, and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Be careful with the tone; it should always be pronounced as shū (first tone) to convey the correct meaning.

淑 or something close to it

善 (shàn) — use 淑 when emphasizing charm and virtue in a warm personality, while 善 focuses more on goodness and moral integrity.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 淑 with similar-sounding characters. For example, some might say 'shú' (second tone) instead of 'shū' (first tone), which changes the meaning. Always use the first tone to maintain its intended virtuous connotation.

Write 淑

淑

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 淑

淑 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 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.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

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

____女端坐时总是双手放在膝上,不发一言。

A lady always sits quietly with her hands in her lap.

Example Sentences for 淑 (2)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
淑女端坐时总是双手放在膝上,不发一言。

shū nǚ duān zuò shí zǒng shì shuāng shǒu fàng zài xī shàng, , bù fā yī。

A lady always sits quietly with her hands in her lap.
2
她是一位成熟的淑女,有一头染成姜黄色的头发和顽皮的笑容。

tā shì yī wèi chéng shú de shū nǚ, , yǒu yī tóu rǎn chéng jiāng huáng sè de tóu fā hé wán pí de xiào。

She was a mature lady with dyed ginger hair and a roguish grin.

Ask Jason

Have a question about 淑?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Word Family of 淑

Words containing this character3
淑女lady
淑shūwarm and virtuous
贤淑(of a woman) virtuous賢淑
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 淑

What does 淑女 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 淑

淑 is commonly used in names to signify qualities like purity and virtue, often associated with feminine attributes.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 淑?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab