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漱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
漱shùto gargle, to rinse; to wash, to scourv, 14 strokes, radical 氵, rank #18399, Hard
漱shùto rinse one's mouth with waterunknown, 14 strokes, radical 氵, rank #18399, Hard
shù(shu4) T4
  1. 1to gargle, to rinse; to wash, to scour
  2. 2to rinse one's mouth with water
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
漱shù(shu4)

The character 漱 (shù) refers primarily to the action of gargling or rinsing, particularly the mouth or throat with water. It is commonly used in contexts related to oral hygiene and cleanliness, often associated with preparing for a meal or after brushing teeth.

Strokes14Radical氵Frequency#18399DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, oral hygiene is taken seriously, and practices like gargling with salt water are common for maintaining health, especially during cold seasons.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person gargling water to wash away the day's worries. The water flows smoothly, just like the character 漱, which has flowing elements that resemble water. The pronunciation 'shù' can be remembered as 'shoo'—a sound you might make when rinsing your mouth.

Meanings of 漱

shù(shu4)
1to gargle, to rinse; to wash, to scour
2to rinse one's mouth with water
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 漱

漱Simplified
14Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 漱

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Podcast: 漱

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AI Study Notes for 漱

Quick Contrast

漱 (shù) vs 洗 (xǐ): Use 漱 specifically for gargling or rinsing the mouth, while 洗 refers to washing in a broader sense.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person gargling water to wash away the day's worries. The water flows smoothly, just like the character 漱, which has flowing elements that resemble water. The pronunciation 'shù' can be remembered as 'shoo'—a sound you might make when rinsing your mouth.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 漱 with similar verbs like 洗 (xǐ), which means to wash. 漱 is more specific to rinsing or gargling, so be careful to use it in contexts that involve mouth washing. It is generally informal, used in everyday conversation rather than formal writing.

HSK Study Tips

Although 漱 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other HSK words related to daily activities and hygiene. Students should focus on its usage in everyday contexts and practice it along with related terms like 洗 (wash) and 漂 (to rinse).

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, oral hygiene is taken seriously, and practices like gargling with salt water are common for maintaining health, especially during cold seasons.

Common Mistakes

Learners often say 漱口 (shù kǒu) to mean 'to rinse the mouth', which is correct, but they might mistakenly use 漱 for washing hands or other objects. Remember that 漱 is specific to rinsing the mouth or throat.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 漱

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Etymology of 漱

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

To gargle 欶 water 氵; 欶 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 漱?

Decomposition of 漱

IDS Structure⿰氵欶
漱Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
欶shuo4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 漱?

Write 漱

漱

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

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Grammar Patterns of 漱

漱 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 2 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 4

Complete the Sentence

每天可用这种混合液____几次口。

The mixture can be used as a gargle several times a day.

Example Sentences for 漱 (4)

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1
每天可用这种混合液漱几次口。

měi tiān kě yòng zhè zhǒng hùn hé yè shù jī cì kǒu。

The mixture can be used as a gargle several times a day.
2
一开始咳嗽就马上试着用盐水漱口。

yī kāi shǐ ké sòu jiù mǎ shàng shì zháo yòng yán shuǐ shù kǒu。

Try gargling with salt water as soon as a cough begins.
3
他走进洗手间去洗漱。

tā zǒu jìn xǐ shǒu jiān qù xǐ shù。

He headed to the bathroom to wash up.
4
广播员:我们刚才在洗漱间拾到一块手表.

guǎng bō yuán: : wǒ mén gāng cái zài xǐ shù jiān shí dào yī kuài shǒu.

We found a watch in the wash - room just now.

Cultural Notes for 漱

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, oral hygiene is taken seriously, and practices like gargling with salt water are common for maintaining health, especially during cold seasons.

Word Family of 漱

Words Containing This Character6
漱口to gargle
漱shùto gargle
洗漱to wash the face and rinse the mouth
梁漱溟Liang Shuming (1893-1988), modern philosopher and teacher in the neo-Confucian tradition
夏目漱石Natsume Sōseki (1867-1916), one of the first modern Japanese novelists
枕石漱流a frugal life (idiom)
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 漱口 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 漱

While it primarily means to gargle, it can also refer to rinsing in general, such as rinsing one's mouth or washing something lightly.