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March 24, 2026
素sù(su4)
The character 素 (sù) primarily denotes 'raw silk' and is often associated with the color white or plainness. It can also refer to vegetarian food, emphasizing simplicity and purity in both culinary and aesthetic contexts. The nuances of this character reflect a cultural appreciation for natural and unadorned qualities.
Strokes10Radical糸Frequency#3364DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 素 food is often consumed during festivals or religious ceremonies, reflecting purity and spiritual significance. The appreciation for simplicity can also be seen in traditional aesthetics, such as in tea ceremonies and calligraphy.
Memory Tip
Imagine a simple white silk fabric flowing gently in the wind, representing the essence of purity and simplicity. The character 素 looks like a ‘thread’ (丝) flowing smoothly, suggesting its connection to raw silk. Picture a vegetarian meal presented on a plain white plate to reinforce its meaning.
Meanings of 素
sù(su4)
1raw silk
2white
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 素
素Simplified
10Strokes
糸Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#3364Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 素
Podcast: 素
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AI Study Notes for 素
Quick Contrast
素 (sù) vs 清 (qīng) — use 素 for raw silk or vegetarian contexts, while 清 emphasizes clarity or purity in taste or quality.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a simple white silk fabric flowing gently in the wind, representing the essence of purity and simplicity. The character 素 looks like a ‘thread’ (丝) flowing smoothly, suggesting its connection to raw silk. Picture a vegetarian meal presented on a plain white plate to reinforce its meaning.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 素 with similar-sounding characters. It's important to use it in contexts that emphasize simplicity, plainness, or vegetarian concepts. Note that when discussing food, 素菜 (sù cài) specifically means 'vegetarian dishes'.
HSK Study Tips
While not found in the HSK list, 素 connects to other level-appropriate vocabulary about food and colors. Students should focus on recognizing its various meanings and practicing its use in different contexts, especially in culinary discussions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 素 food is often consumed during festivals or religious ceremonies, reflecting purity and spiritual significance. The appreciation for simplicity can also be seen in traditional aesthetics, such as in tea ceremonies and calligraphy.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 素 by confusing it with similar characters like 速 (sù, fast). For example, saying '我吃素菜' (wǒ chī sù cài) correctly means 'I eat vegetarian dishes', but saying '我吃速菜' would be incorrect as it implies 'I eat fast dishes', which does not convey the intended meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 素
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Grammar Patterns of 素
素 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 12 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.
The vitamin content in grapes is particularly abundant.
Common Confusions with 素
素vs速
sù
Same pronunciation but different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "raw silk"?
or
Usage Notes for 素
Misunderstanding '素' in culinary contextsCommon Error
'素' often refers to vegetarian food, but learners might confuse it with '素食' which specifically means vegetarian diet.
1
我不吃素。
I don't eat vegetarian food.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
我不吃____。
I don't eat vegetarian food.
Example Sentences for 素 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
你要服一粒维生素B胶囊。
nǐ yào fú yī lì wéi shēng sùB B jiāo。
You are asked to swallow a capsule containing vitamin B.
2
你可以在15分钟内做出一道便宜的辣椒素菜。
nǐ kě yǐ zài15 15 fēn zhōng nèi zuò chū yī dào biàn yí de là jiāo sù。
You can cook a cheap veggie chilli in 15 minutes.
3
我认为取得成功唯一的共同要素是勤奋。
wǒ rèn wéi qǔ dé chéng gōng wéi yī de gòng tóng yào sù shì qín fèn。
I think the only common denominator of success is hard work.
4
这次会议具备了作为高度戏剧性的政治事件的一切要素。
zhè cì huì yì jù bèi le zuò wéi gāo dù xì jù xìng de zhèng zhì shì jiàn de yī qiē yào sù。
The meeting had all the ingredients of high political drama.
5
玻璃瓶中盛满了被食用色素染过色的水。
bō lí píng zhōng shèng mǎn le bèi shí yòng sè sù rǎn guò sè de shuǐ。
Glass bottles are filled with water tinted with food colourings.
6
我们这一系列的药草茶不含防腐剂、色素以及人工调味品。
wǒ mén zhè yī xì liè de yào cǎo chá bù hán fáng fǔ jì、 、 sè sù yǐ jí rén gōng tiáo wèi。
Our range of herbal teas contain no preservatives, colourings or artificial flavourings.
7
我认为他们能否成功取决于这一限制因素.
wǒ rèn wéi tā mén néng fǒu chéng gōng qǔ jué yú zhè yī xiàn zhì yīn sù.
Their success is conditional, I suggest, on this restriction.
8
素食汉堡是一种迅速传到了英国的新开发食品。
sù shí hàn bǎo shì yī zhǒng xùn sù chuán dào le yīng guó de xīn kāi fā shí pǐn。
The vegetarian burger was an innovation which was rapidly exported to Britain.
9
他穿一件素净的蓝色衬衫，领口敞着。
tā chuān yī jiàn sù jìng de lán sè chèn shān， ， lǐng kǒu chǎng。
He wore a plain blue shirt, open at the collar.
10
展览会上最贵重的展品是毕加索的一幅素描。
zhǎn lǎn huì shàng zuì guì zhòng de zhǎn pǐn shì bì jiā suǒ de yī fú sù miáo。
The most valuable item on show will be a Picasso drawing.
Cultural Notes for 素
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, 素 food is often consumed during festivals or religious ceremonies, reflecting purity and spiritual significance. The appreciation for simplicity can also be seen in traditional aesthetics, such as in tea ceremonies and calligraphy.
Word Family of 素
Compounds11
愫su4sincere, honest, guileless
嗉su4a bird's crop; wine pot
榡
傃
塐
嫊
溸
縤
繛
膆
螦
Words Containing This Character20
因素yīnsùelement
素sùwhite
素质sùzhìinner quality素質
元素yuánsùelement
维生素wéishēngsùvitamin維生素
激素jīsùhormone
毒素poison
抗生素kàngshēngsùantibiotic
要素yàosùessential factor
像素pixel
素食sùshívegetables
素材sùcáisource material (in literature and art)
胰岛素insulin胰島素
同位素isotope
素描sùmiáosketch
色素pigment
朴素pǔsùunadorned樸素
罗素Russell (name)羅素
吃素to be a vegetarian
青霉素penicillin
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 愫 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 素
素 (sù) generally refers to something plain, unadorned, or related to vegetarianism, while 纯 (chún) means pure and often refers to something that is untainted or genuine. Understanding these subtle differences can help you choose the right word in various contexts.
Yes, 素 (sù) is commonly used in traditional Chinese cuisine to refer to vegetarian dishes. Many Chinese vegetarian dishes are labeled as 素菜 (sù cài), meaning 'vegetable dishes', which are prepared without meat and often emphasize natural flavors.
素 (sù) can mean several things in Chinese, including 'raw silk', 'white', 'plain or unadorned', and 'vegetarian' in the context of food. It can also refer to 'essence' or 'nature' in more abstract uses. Understanding its multiple meanings can help enhance your vocabulary.
You can use 素 (sù) in sentences to describe food, for example, '我吃素' (wǒ chī sù) means 'I am a vegetarian.' Additionally, it can be used to refer to something plain, like '这件衣服很素' (zhè jiàn yīfú hěn sù), which means 'This piece of clothing is very plain.'
In the context of food, 素 refers to vegetarian dishes, emphasizing simplicity and natural ingredients.
素 can describe anything plain or unadorned, such as clothing styles or decor.
Yes, it can also denote the color white or the idea of simplicity in various contexts.
