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March 24, 2026
莘shēn(Shen1)
The character 莘 (shēn) primarily refers to a type of marsh plant known for its medicinal properties, often associated with wild ginger. It can also mean 'numerous' or 'long,' and is sometimes used as a surname, particularly 'Shen.' This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in specific contexts related to botany or traditional medicine.
Strokes10Radical艹Frequency#75646DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, plants like 莘 are valued for their healing properties and are often used in herbal remedies. This reflects the deep-rooted connection between nature and health in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a lush marsh filled with numerous tall plants, with the character 莘 symbolizing both their abundance and their long, slender shape. The visual resemblance of the character's components to these plants can help you remember that 'shēn' relates to 'numerous' and 'long.'
Meanings of 莘
shēn(Shen1)
primary
1numerous, long; a marsh plant with a medicinal root
2Asarum
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 莘
莘Simplified
10Strokes
艹Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 莘
Podcast: 莘
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AI Study Notes for 莘
Usage Notes
莘 is not commonly used in casual conversation, so learners should be cautious about its context. It often appears in literary or botanical texts; using it in everyday speech may sound overly formal. Be mindful of similar-sounding characters to avoid confusion.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK-level unknown character, students should focus on its specific contexts and synonyms, such as 細辛 (xì xīn). Familiarizing yourself with these related words can enhance your understanding of traditional Chinese medicine and botany.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 莘 with similar characters like 辛 (xīn), which means 'bitter' or 'hardship.' A common mistake is using 莘 in a context where a more common character would be appropriate, such as referring to a common plant like 蔬菜 (shū cài) instead.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 莘
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2The sound half辛 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayplant
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 莘?
Decomposition of 莘
IDS Structure⿱艹辛
莘Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
辛Xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 莘?
How to say surname Shen in Chinese
“surname Shen” in Chinese is莘shēn
The character 莘 (shēn) primarily refers to a type of marsh plant known for its medicinal properties, often associated with wild ginger. It can also mean 'numerous' or 'long,' and is sometimes used as a surname, particularly 'Shen.' This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in specific contexts related to botany or traditional medicine.
When to use 莘
莘 is not commonly used in casual conversation, so learners should be cautious about its context. It often appears in literary or botanical texts; using it in everyday speech may sound overly formal. Be mindful of similar-sounding characters to avoid confusion.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 莘 with similar characters like 辛 (xīn), which means 'bitter' or 'hardship.' A common mistake is using 莘 in a context where a more common character would be appropriate, such as referring to a common plant like 蔬菜 (shū cài) instead.
Write 莘
莘
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Practice writing 莘 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Word Family of 莘
Words Containing This Character4
莘shēnAsarum
莘莘学子a great number of students (idiom)莘莘學子
莘县Shen county in Liaocheng 聊城[Liáochéng], Shandong莘縣
莘庄镇Xinzhuang, town in Minhang District 閔行區|闵行区[MǐnhángQū], Shanghai莘庄鎮
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 莘 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 莘
莘 refers to a plant used in traditional medicine, particularly known for its medicinal root.
No, 莘 is more likely to be found in literary or specialized texts rather than everyday dialogue.
Yes, 莘 can also be a surname, particularly the surname 'Shen'.
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