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粟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
粟sùoats, millet, barleynr, 12 strokes, radical 米, rank #40755, Very Hard
粟sùsurname Suunknown, 12 strokes, radical 米, rank #40755, Very Hard
粟sùgoose pimplesunknown, 12 strokes, radical 米, rank #40755, Very Hard
sù(Su4) T4
  1. 1oats, millet, barley
  2. 2goose pimples
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

粟sù(Su4)

The character 粟 (sù) primarily refers to grains such as millet and oats, which are significant in Chinese agriculture. It can also denote a surname, Su, and is used in a colloquial context to describe goosebumps. This term is often encountered in discussions related to food, farming, and cultural references to traditional grains.

Strokes12Radical米Frequency#40755DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Millet (粟) is one of the oldest cultivated grains in China and has been a staple food in many regions, especially in the north. It plays a significant role in traditional festivals and cuisine, such as during the Harvest Festival.

Memory Tip

Imagine a farmer sowing millet seeds, which are small and round like tiny beads of grain. The character 粟 has a radical that represents grain (米), and the top part looks like a seed being scattered. Picture the farmer saying 'sù' as he plants these seeds, creating a vivid connection between the sound and the image.

Meanings of 粟

sù(Su4)
1oats, millet, barley
2goose pimples
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 粟

粟Simplified
12Strokes
米Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 粟

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Podcast: 粟

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AI Study Notes for 粟

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a farmer sowing millet seeds, which are small and round like tiny beads of grain. The character 粟 has a radical that represents grain (米), and the top part looks like a seed being scattered. Picture the farmer saying 'sù' as he plants these seeds, creating a vivid connection between the sound and the image.

Usage Notes

When using 粟, it's important to differentiate it from similar grains, as it specifically refers to millet and not other cereals. Be mindful that this character is more formal and may not be used in everyday casual conversations. Common collocations include 粟米 (millet) and 粟粒 (grain of millet).

HSK Study Tips

While 粟 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects well with other grain-related terms you might encounter at this level. Focus on the radicals and character components, as they often appear in food-related vocabulary. Understanding this character can enhance your comprehension of agricultural topics in Chinese.

Cultural Note

Millet (粟) is one of the oldest cultivated grains in China and has been a staple food in many regions, especially in the north. It plays a significant role in traditional festivals and cuisine, such as during the Harvest Festival.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 粟 with similar characters for other grains, leading to incorrect usages such as saying 粟米 when they mean 'rice' (米). The correct term for rice should be 米 (mǐ), while 粟 specifically refers to millet.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 粟

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Etymology of 粟

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

A millet plant 米 bearing grain 覀

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 粟?

Decomposition of 粟

IDS Structure⿱覀米
粟Full Character
=
覀xi1
top
米Mi3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 粟?

Write 粟

粟

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

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Grammar Patterns of 粟

粟 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 3 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 3

Complete the Sentence

研究人员已经从罂____种子里分离出一种新的蛋白质。

Researchers have isolated a new protein from the seeds of poppies.

Example Sentences for 粟 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
研究人员已经从罂粟种子里分离出一种新的蛋白质。

yán jiū rén yuán yǐ jīng cóng yīng sù zhǒng zǐ lǐ fēn lí chū yī zhǒng xīn de dàn bái zhì。

Researchers have isolated a new protein from the seeds of poppies.
2
她把罂粟花别在了他的雨衣上。

tā bǎ yīng sù huā bié zài le tā de yǔ yī shàng。

She pinned the poppy to his raincoat.
3
蜜蜂在鲜红的罂粟花和艳紫的蓟草花之间飞舞嗡嗡低吟.

mì fēng zài xiān hóng de yīng sù huā hé yàn zǐ de jì cǎo huā zhī jiān fēi wǔ wēng wēng dī yín.

Bees moved , humming thoughtfully , from scarlet poppy to purple thistle.

Cultural Notes for 粟

🏮Cultural insight

Millet (粟) is one of the oldest cultivated grains in China and has been a staple food in many regions, especially in the north. It plays a significant role in traditional festivals and cuisine, such as during the Harvest Festival.

Word Family of 粟

Words Containing This Character7
罂粟poppy罌粟
粟sùgrain
粟米corn
粟裕Su Yu (1907-1984), PLA commander
沧海一粟a drop in the ocean (idiom)滄海一粟
布帛菽粟food and clothing
苞粟corn
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 罂粟 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 粟

While 米 (mǐ) refers to rice in general, 粟 specifically indicates millet or oats, which are different types of grains.