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March 24, 2026
舌shé(she2)
舌 (shé) refers to the tongue, an essential organ for tasting, speaking, and swallowing. It can also refer to a bell clapper in specific contexts, emphasizing its role in producing sound. Commonly used in discussions about food, health, and communication, this character highlights the importance of taste and speech in daily life.
Strokes6Radical舌Frequency#4036DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, the concept of taste is deeply intertwined with the tongue, as it is vital for experiencing flavors. The phrase '舌尖上的中国' (On the Tip of the Tongue: China) highlights the cultural significance of food in Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine your tongue as a 'shedding' layer of taste, like a flower shedding petals. The character 舌 looks like a tongue sticking out, with the horizontal line representing the body and the strokes mimicking its shape. Picture tasting delicious food with your tongue to remember both meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 舌
shé(she2)
1tongue
2tongue; bell clapper
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 舌
舌Simplified
6Strokes
舌Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4036Frequency Rank
Podcast: 舌
Podcast: 舌
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AI Study Notes for 舌
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tones when pronouncing 舌, as tonal errors can lead to misunderstandings. It is often used in phrases like '舌头' (shétou: tongue) and '舌尖' (shéjiān: tip of the tongue). This word is generally informal but can be used in more formal contexts regarding health or anatomy.
HSK Study Tips
舌 is not featured in the HSK levels but is relevant for learners at HSK 3 and above, especially those focusing on vocabulary related to body parts and food. Students should practice combining 舌 with other related terms to enhance their speaking and listening skills.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 舌 (shé) with 车 (chē), which means 'car'. A common mistake is using the wrong tone, such as saying 'chè' instead of 'shé', which can lead to confusion in conversation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 舌
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Pictograph of a tongue sticking out of a mouth, with a splatter of spit at the end.
1The giveawayA tongue 千 sticking out of a mouth 口
2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 舌? 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 舌?
Decomposition of 舌
IDS Structure⿱千口
舌Full Character
=
千qian1
top
口kou3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 舌?
How to say tongue in Chinese
“tongue” in Chinese is舌shé
舌 (shé) refers to the tongue, an essential organ for tasting, speaking, and swallowing. It can also refer to a bell clapper in specific contexts, emphasizing its role in producing sound. Commonly used in discussions about food, health, and communication, this character highlights the importance of taste and speech in daily life.
When to use 舌
Be cautious with the tones when pronouncing 舌, as tonal errors can lead to misunderstandings. It is often used in phrases like '舌头' (shétou: tongue) and '舌尖' (shéjiān: tip of the tongue). This word is generally informal but can be used in more formal contexts regarding health or anatomy.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 舌 (shé) with 车 (chē), which means 'car'. A common mistake is using the wrong tone, such as saying 'chè' instead of 'shé', which can lead to confusion in conversation.
Write 舌
舌
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Practice writing 舌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 舌
舌 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 2 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 5
Complete the Sentence
我走到镜子前面伸出____头。
I walked over to the mirror and stuck my tongue out.
Example Sentences for 舌 (10)
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1
我走到镜子前面伸出舌头。
wǒ zǒu dào jìng zǐ qián miàn shēn chū shé tóu。
I walked over to the mirror and stuck my tongue out.
2
然而他的证词只是新一轮唇枪舌剑中的一股火力。
rán ér tā de zhèng cí zhī shì xīn yī lún chún qiāng shé jiàn zhōng de yī gǔ huǒ lì。
His testimony, however, was only one in a salvo of new attacks.
3
他伸出舌头，鼻翼扇动着。
tā shēn chū shé tóu， ， bí yì shàn dòng。
He stuck out his tongue and flared his nostrils.
4
特迪咂了咂舌头，活像个不以为然的英国女舍监。
tè dí zā le zā shé tóu， ， huó xiàng gè bù yǐ wéi rán de yīng guó nǚ shě。
Teddy clucked his tongue like a disapproving English matron.
5
她做了个鬼脸，向他吐了吐舌头。
tā zuò le gè guǐ liǎn， ， xiàng tā tǔ le tǔ shé。
She made a face and stuck out her tongue at him.
6
那名男子摸了摸他的帽舌。
nà míng nán zǐ mō le mō tā de mào shé。
The man touched the peak of his cap.
7
我费尽口舌想避免一场打架。
wǒ fèi jìn kǒu shé xiǎng bì miǎn yī cháng dǎ jià。
I tried to talk myself out of a fight.
8
那只狗伸着舌头从树林里蹒跚地跑回来。
nà zhī gǒu shēn zháo shé tóu cóng shù lín lǐ pán shān dì pǎo huí lái。
Tongue lolling, the dog came lolloping back from the forest.
