Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
脎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
脎sàan organic compoundg, 10 strokes, radical ⺼
sà(sa4) T4
  1. 1an organic compound
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

脎sà(sa4)

The character 脎 (sà) refers to an organic compound, typically used in scientific and chemical contexts. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in specialized discussions about chemistry or biology.

Strokes10Radical⺼
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the study of organic compounds is significant in traditional medicine, where many remedies are derived from natural sources. Understanding 脎 may connect learners to the historical roots of Chinese herbal practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine a scientist holding a compound in their hand, ready to analyze it. The character 脎 contains the radical '肉' (meat) which can remind you of organic compounds derived from living organisms. The sound 'sà' can be associated with 'science' to help remember its meaning.

Meanings of 脎

sà(sa4)
1an organic compound
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 脎

脎Simplified
10Strokes
⺼Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 脎

JasonAmy

Podcast: 脎

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 脎

Usage Notes

When using 脎, be aware that it is primarily used in formal or academic contexts. Avoid using it in casual conversations, as it may confuse listeners unfamiliar with scientific terminology. Common collocations include phrases related to chemical reactions and organic chemistry.

HSK Study Tips

While 脎 is not an HSK level word, it relates to words in the chemistry domain that may appear in advanced studies. Students should focus on learning related scientific vocabulary to build a comprehensive understanding of organic compounds.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 脎 with similar characters related to food or health. For example, saying '脎菜' (sàcài) instead of '蔬菜' (shūcài) for vegetables is incorrect. Remember that 脎 is specific to organic compounds.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 脎

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 脎 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 脎

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

organic compound

Semantic (meaning)⺼
+
Phonetic (sound)杀
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 脎

  1. 1The meaning half⺼ carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half杀 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayorganic compound
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 脎? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 脎?

Decomposition of 脎

IDS Structure⿰⺼杀
脎Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
杀sha1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 脎?

How to say an organic compound in Chinese

“an organic compound” in Chinese is脎sà

The character 脎 (sà) refers to an organic compound, typically used in scientific and chemical contexts. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in specialized discussions about chemistry or biology.

When to use 脎

When using 脎, be aware that it is primarily used in formal or academic contexts. Avoid using it in casual conversations, as it may confuse listeners unfamiliar with scientific terminology. Common collocations include phrases related to chemical reactions and organic chemistry.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 脎 with similar characters related to food or health. For example, saying '脎菜' (sàcài) instead of '蔬菜' (shūcài) for vegetables is incorrect. Remember that 脎 is specific to organic compounds.

Write 脎

脎

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 脎

It means an organic compound, typically used in scientific contexts.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 脎?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.