Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 肃
肃Simplified
肅Traditional
8Strokes
肀Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#47788Frequency Rank
Podcast: 肃
Podcast: 肃
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 肃
Quick Contrast
严 (yán) - use 肃 (sù) for formal respectfulness, while 严 (yán) emphasizes strictness or severity.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 肃 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 肃 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 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.
Wanting fidelity implies you're thinking about a major relationship.
8
“那件衣服很好看，”迈克尔说。“谢谢，”她严肃地回答。
“ “ nà jiàn yī fú hěn hǎo，” kàn ，” mài kè。“ ěr shuō，” 。“ xiè xiè ，” tā yán。
"That's a nice dress," said Michael. "Thanks," she replied solemnly.
9
当他们走近时，每扇门外都有一名卫兵肃身立正。
dāng tā mén zǒu jìn shí， ， měi shàn mén wài dū yǒu yī míng wèi bīng sù shēn lì。
Outside each door a guard sprang to attention as they approached.
10
他们让我坐下，然后和我严肃地探讨了有关性的话题。
tā mén ràng wǒ zuò xià， ， rán hòu hé wǒ yán sù dì tàn tǎo le yǒu guān xìng de huà。
They sat me down and had a serious discussion about sex.
Cultural Notes for 肃
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 肃
Compounds4
萧Xiao1mournful, desolate; common Artemisa
箫xiao1bamboo flute
骕su4a famous horse
鹔su4the turquoise kingfisher
Words Containing This Character20
严肃yánsùsolemn嚴肅
肃静silence肅靜
甘肃Gansu province, abbr. 甘[Gān], short name 隴|陇[Lǒng], capital Lanzhou 蘭州|兰州[Lánzhōu]甘肅
甘肃省Gansu Province, abbr. 甘[Gān], short name 隴|陇[Lǒng], capital Lanzhou 蘭州|兰州[Lánzhōu]甘肅省
肃sùsolemn肅
肃清to purge肅清
肃穆serene肅穆
肃然起敬to feel deep veneration for sb (idiom)肅然起敬
整肃strict整肅
肃然respectful肅然
鲁肃Lu Su or Lu Zijing 魯子敬|鲁子敬 (172-217), statesman, diplomat and strategist of Eastern Wu 東吳|东吴魯肅
肃立to stand respectfully肅立
肃反abbr. for 肅清反革命份子|肃清反革命分子肅反
肃杀austere肅殺
肃州Suzhou district of Jiuquan City 酒泉市, Gansu肅州
肃慎ancient ethnic group of northeast frontier of China肅慎
肃州区Suzhou district of Jiuquan City 酒泉市, Gansu肅州區
肃宁Suning county in Cangzhou 滄州|沧州[Cāngzhōu], Hebei肅寧
唐肃宗Emperor Suzong of Tang (711-762), reign name of eighth Tang emperor Li Heng 李亨[LǐHēng], reigned 756-762唐肅宗
肃宁县Suning county in Cangzhou 滄州|沧州[Cāngzhōu], Hebei肅寧縣
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 萧 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 肃
In formal contexts, 肃 typically conveys a sense of solemnity and respect, often used in ceremonies or expressions of respect.
You can use 肃 in phrases like '肃静' (sù jìng), meaning 'to be silent' or 'to maintain silence' in a respectful manner.
No, 肃 is more commonly found in formal writing or speech rather than in everyday conversational language.
