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瘙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
瘙sàoscabies; to itchzg, 14 strokes, radical 疒, rank #36968, Very Hard
瘙sàoitchunknown, 14 strokes, radical 疒, rank #36968, Very Hard
瘙sàoold term for scabiesunknown, 14 strokes, radical 疒, rank #36968, Very Hard
瘙sàoTaiwan pr. [sao1]unknown, 14 strokes, radical 疒, rank #36968, Very Hard
sào(sao4) T4
  1. 1scabies; to itch
  2. 2itch
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

瘙sào(sao4)

瘙 (sào) refers to an itch or the sensation of itching, commonly associated with skin irritations or conditions like scabies. This term is often used in medical contexts to describe symptoms of various skin ailments, and it can also refer to the condition of having scabies itself.

Strokes14Radical疒Frequency#36968DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, skin conditions are often viewed holistically, with treatments that consider the body's internal balance. The term 瘙 is relevant in discussions about ailments that are prevalent in humid climates, such as Taiwan.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person scratching an itch that is so intense it feels like a 'saw' (sounds like 'sào') going over their skin. The character 瘙 has the radical 疒 (illness) on the left, linking it to health issues, while the right part resembles a person in discomfort, reminding you of the sensation of itching.

Meanings of 瘙

sào(sao4)
1scabies; to itch
2itch
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 瘙

瘙Simplified
14Strokes
疒Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 瘙

JasonAmy

Podcast: 瘙

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 瘙

Quick Contrast

痒 (yǎng, itch) is a more general term for itchiness, while 瘙 (sào) specifically refers to a type of itch often associated with skin conditions.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person scratching an itch that is so intense it feels like a 'saw' (sounds like 'sào') going over their skin. The character 瘙 has the radical 疒 (illness) on the left, linking it to health issues, while the right part resembles a person in discomfort, reminding you of the sensation of itching.

Usage Notes

瘙 is primarily used in medical or formal contexts discussing skin conditions. A common mistake is to confuse it with 痒 (yǎng), which means 'itchy,' but is more general and less specific to conditions like scabies. Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing it, as it can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 瘙 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, it connects to medical terminology that might appear in advanced studies. Learners should focus on recognizing the character in context, especially in health-related discussions.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, skin conditions are often viewed holistically, with treatments that consider the body's internal balance. The term 瘙 is relevant in discussions about ailments that are prevalent in humid climates, such as Taiwan.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 瘙 with the more general term 痒 (yǎng), which simply means 'itchy.' For example, saying '我有瘙' (wǒ yǒu sào) is incorrect; instead, use '我觉得痒' (wǒ juédé yǎng) to express 'I feel itchy.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 瘙

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Etymology of 瘙

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

sickness

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 瘙?

Decomposition of 瘙

IDS Structure⿸疒蚤
瘙Full Character
=
疒ne4
enclosing
蚤zao3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 瘙?

Write 瘙

瘙

Practice writing 瘙 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 瘙

瘙 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

这种____痒简直快把我折磨疯了。

This itching is driving me mad.

Example Sentences for 瘙 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这种瘙痒简直快把我折磨疯了。

zhè zhǒng sào yǎng jiǎn zhí kuài bǎ wǒ zhē mó fēng le。

This itching is driving me mad.
2
外阴瘙痒, 流黄水 和豆腐渣样的东西.

wài yīn sào yǎng, , liú huáng shuǐ hé dòu fǔ zhā yàng de.

Thing stream Huang Shui and soya - bean residue - like vulva pruritus.
3
患者女性,17岁,因外阴白斑伴瘙痒8年就诊.

huàn zhě nǚ xìng,17 ,17, suì , yīn wài yīn bái bān bàn8 sào yǎng 8.

The complaint was vulva white patch with itch for 8 years.

Cultural Notes for 瘙

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese medicine, skin conditions are often viewed holistically, with treatments that consider the body's internal balance. The term 瘙 is relevant in discussions about ailments that are prevalent in humid climates, such as Taiwan.

Word Family of 瘙

Words Containing This Character2
瘙sàoitch
瘙痒to itch瘙癢
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 瘙 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 瘙

It means 'itch' or refers to skin conditions like scabies.