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March 24, 2026
肃(肅)sù(Su4)
肃 (sù) primarily conveys a sense of respectfulness and solemnity. It is often used in contexts related to formal or serious occasions, such as paying respects or conducting ceremonies. Additionally, it can imply the act of cleaning up or eliminating something, particularly in a respectful manner.
Strokes8Radical肀Frequency#47788DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of solemnity is deeply rooted in rituals and ceremonies, such as funerals or traditional festivals, where respect and order are paramount. This character reflects the importance of maintaining a respectful demeanor during such occasions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a solemn ceremony where everyone is dressed in respectful attire, standing straight and silent. The character 肃 is like an upright figure (the left part resembles a person) showing respect, while the right part suggests a sense of order and cleanliness, reminding you to 'clean up' the atmosphere.
Meanings of 肃
sù(Su4)
1respectful
2solemn
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 肃
肃Simplified
肅Traditional
8Strokes
肀Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#47788Frequency Rank
Podcast: 肃
Podcast: 肃
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AI Study Notes for 肃
Quick Contrast
严 (yán) - use 肃 (sù) for formal respectfulness, while 严 (yán) emphasizes strictness or severity.
Usage Notes
When using 肃, be aware that it is more formal and may not be suitable for casual conversations. A common mistake is to use it in informal settings, which can sound awkward. Phrases like '肃穆' (sù mù) meaning 'solemn' or 'respectful' often accompany this character.
HSK Study Tips
Although 肃 is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with higher-level vocabulary related to respect and formality. Students should focus on its usage in formal contexts and related phrases, as it helps to build a more sophisticated vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 肃 with similar-sounding characters like 速 (sù, meaning fast), leading to incorrect usage in sentences. For example, saying '我想要肃吃晚饭' (I want to 'respectfully' eat dinner) instead of using the appropriate verb for eating, which would be 吃 (chī).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 肃
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Drill the tone of 肃 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Simplified form of 肅. The 𣶒 (deep; profound) component hints at the meaning. The purpose of the 聿 (writing utensil) component is unclear.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 肃? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
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Decomposition of 肃
IDS Structure⿱肀？
肃Full Character
=
肀yu4
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Exercise 1 of 1
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 肃?
How to say surname Su in Chinese
“surname Su” in Chinese is肃sù
肃 (sù) primarily conveys a sense of respectfulness and solemnity. It is often used in contexts related to formal or serious occasions, such as paying respects or conducting ceremonies. Additionally, it can imply the act of cleaning up or eliminating something, particularly in a respectful manner.
When to use 肃
When using 肃, be aware that it is more formal and may not be suitable for casual conversations. A common mistake is to use it in informal settings, which can sound awkward. Phrases like '肃穆' (sù mù) meaning 'solemn' or 'respectful' often accompany this character.
肃 or something close to it
严 (yán) - use 肃 (sù) for formal respectfulness, while 严 (yán) emphasizes strictness or severity.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 肃 with similar-sounding characters like 速 (sù, meaning fast), leading to incorrect usage in sentences. For example, saying '我想要肃吃晚饭' (I want to 'respectfully' eat dinner) instead of using the appropriate verb for eating, which would be 吃 (chī).
Write 肃
肃
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Practice writing 肃 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 肃
肃 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 6 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.
