Meanings of 澀
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About 澀
Podcast: 澀
Podcast: 澀
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AI Study Notes for 澀
涩 (sè) vs 苦 (kǔ) — pick 澀 over 苦 when describing astringency rather than bitterness.
Learners often confuse 澀 with similar-sounding words, especially those relating to flavor and texture. It is generally used in a more formal context when discussing tastes in food or wine, so be mindful of your audience. Common collocations include 澀味 (sè wèi, astringent taste) and 澀口 (sè kǒu, astringent mouthfeel).
Though not categorized under HSK levels, understanding 澀 can enhance your vocabulary related to flavors and sensations, which is useful in everyday conversation about food. Connect this character with others that describe taste, like 甜 (tián, sweet) and 酸 (suān, sour), to grasp the spectrum of flavor descriptions.
Learners may mistakenly use 澀 to describe sweetness or pleasant flavors, as in '这个水果很澀' when they mean to say '这个水果很好吃' (this fruit is delicious). Ensure you're using 澀 specifically for harsh or astringent qualities.
Pronunciation of 澀
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Etymology of 澀
Water 氵 that cuts like a knife 歰; 歰 also provides the pronunciation
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 澀
- 1The giveawayWater 氵 that cuts like a knife 歰; 歰 also provides the pronunciation
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 澀? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 澀
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How to say astringent, harsh, rough, uneven in Chinese
“astringent, harsh, rough, uneven” in Chinese is澀
The character 澀 (sè) primarily means astringent, describing a taste that causes a dry feeling in the mouth, often associated with certain fruits or unripe foods. It can also imply a texture that is rough or uneven, and in a broader sense, may describe something harsh or difficult in experience or emotion. This word is commonly used in culinary contexts, particularly when discussing flavors and sensations.
When to use 澀
Learners often confuse 澀 with similar-sounding words, especially those relating to flavor and texture. It is generally used in a more formal context when discussing tastes in food or wine, so be mindful of your audience. Common collocations include 澀味 (sè wèi, astringent taste) and 澀口 (sè kǒu, astringent mouthfeel).
澀 or something close to it
涩 (sè) vs 苦 (kǔ) — pick 澀 over 苦 when describing astringency rather than bitterness.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistakenly use 澀 to describe sweetness or pleasant flavors, as in '这个水果很澀' when they mean to say '这个水果很好吃' (this fruit is delicious). Ensure you're using 澀 specifically for harsh or astringent qualities.
Write 澀
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Practice writing 澀 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 澀
Compound Meaning
What does 涩 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 澀
澀 refers to a dry, puckering sensation often found in unripe fruits, distinct from sweet or sour flavors.
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