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稅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
shuìtaxesx, 12 strokes, radical 禾, Very Hard
shuì(shui4) T4
  1. 1taxes
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
shuì(shui4)

The character 稅 (shuì) means 'tax' in Mandarin. It is commonly used in contexts related to finance, economics, and government obligations. Understanding this term is essential for discussions about personal finance or business operations in Chinese-speaking environments.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In China, tax collection plays a significant role in funding public services and infrastructure, reflecting the government's influence on daily life. Tax-related events, such as the end of the fiscal year, are critical times for businesses and individuals.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large, heavy bag of coins being collected by a government official. The character 稅 resembles a person carrying a heavy burden (the top part, '禾', represents crops, while the bottom part, '税', can evoke images of an official collecting taxes from the harvest). This connection helps you remember both the pronunciation 'shuì' and the taxing nature of the character.

Meanings of 稅

shuì(shui4)
1taxes
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 稅

Simplified
12Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 稅

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AI Study Notes for 稅

Quick Contrast

税 (shuì) vs 费 (fèi) — use 税 for government-imposed taxes, while 费 refers to fees or expenses.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a large, heavy bag of coins being collected by a government official. The character 稅 resembles a person carrying a heavy burden (the top part, '禾', represents crops, while the bottom part, '税', can evoke images of an official collecting taxes from the harvest). This connection helps you remember both the pronunciation 'shuì' and the taxing nature of the character.

Usage Notes

When using 稅, it’s important to pair it with other terms like '所得稅' (income tax) or '增值稅' (value-added tax) for clarity. Avoid informal language when discussing tax matters, as these are often serious topics. Be mindful of tone; 'shuì' is pronounced with a falling tone.

HSK Study Tips

While 稅 is not officially listed in HSK levels, it connects to vocabulary related to finance and law that learners may encounter in advanced levels. Students should focus on related financial terms to build a comprehensive understanding of economic discussions.

Cultural Note

In China, tax collection plays a significant role in funding public services and infrastructure, reflecting the government's influence on daily life. Tax-related events, such as the end of the fiscal year, are critical times for businesses and individuals.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 稅 with 费 (fèi), which means 'fee' or 'expense.' For example, saying '我需要交费' (I need to pay a fee) when referring to taxes is incorrect; it should be '我需要交税.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 稅

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Etymology of 稅

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

Simplified form of 稅. Phonosemantic compound. 禾 represents the meaning and 兌 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

Grain 禾 paid as tribute 兌; 兌 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 稅?

Decomposition of 稅

IDS Structure⿰禾兌
Full Character
=
he2
left
dui4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 稅?

Write 稅

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

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Cultural Notes for 稅

🏮Cultural insight

In China, tax collection plays a significant role in funding public services and infrastructure, reflecting the government's influence on daily life. Tax-related events, such as the end of the fiscal year, are critical times for businesses and individuals.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, tax systems are often seen as a civic duty, whereas in China, there can be a more complex relationship due to the government's role in economic management and development.

Word Family of 稅

Words Containing This Character20
shuìtaxes
税收shuìshōutaxation稅收
税务shuìwùtaxation services稅務
纳税nàshuìto pay taxes納稅
纳税人nàshuìréntaxpayer納稅人
免税tax free免稅
关税guānshuìtariff關稅
税款tax payments稅款
所得税income tax所得稅
缴税to pay tax繳稅
逃税to evade a tax逃稅
退税tax rebate or refund退稅
增值税value-added tax (VAT)增值稅
税务局Tax Bureau稅務局
征税to levy taxes徵稅
减税tax cut減稅
税法tax code稅法
营业税tax on turnover營業稅
偷税tax evasion偷稅
漏税tax evasion漏稅
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 税 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 稅

It is pronounced 'shuì' with a falling tone.