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March 24, 2026
蓄xù(xu4)
The character 蓄 (xù) means to store or save something, often relating to the accumulation of resources or ideas. It can refer to growing something, such as a beard or hair, and is often used in contexts involving preparation or nurturing over time.
Strokes13Radical艹Frequency#14372DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, growing a beard is often associated with wisdom and maturity, making 蓄 a significant term when discussing personal appearance and social status.
Memory Tip
Think of 蓄 as a garden where you 'store' (蓄) seeds (the radical '艹' for plants) in order to grow beautiful flowers. Imagine tending to your garden and watching it flourish, just like how you would cultivate your thoughts or a beard.
Meanings of 蓄
xù(xu4)
1to store up
2to grow (e.g. a beard)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 蓄
蓄Simplified
13Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#14372Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蓄
Podcast: 蓄
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AI Study Notes for 蓄
Quick Contrast
蓄 (xù) vs 积 (jī) — use 蓄 when emphasizing the nurturing or gradual growth aspect, while 积 focuses more on the act of accumulation itself.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 蓄 as a garden where you 'store' (蓄) seeds (the radical '艹' for plants) in order to grow beautiful flowers. Imagine tending to your garden and watching it flourish, just like how you would cultivate your thoughts or a beard.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 蓄 with similar-sounding characters; it specifically relates to storing or growing. It is generally more formal and may not be used in casual conversation. Common collocations include 蓄电 (store electricity) and 蓄发 (grow hair/beard).
HSK Study Tips
While 蓄 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects with vocabulary related to growth and storage, such as 存 (cún, to save) and 增长 (zēngzhǎng, to increase). Focus on the context of usage to better grasp its nuanced meanings.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, growing a beard is often associated with wisdom and maturity, making 蓄 a significant term when discussing personal appearance and social status.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蓄 with 续 (xù, to continue), leading to errors in phrases. For instance, saying 蓄续 (xùxù) instead of 继续 (jìxù, to continue) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蓄
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Grammar Patterns of 蓄
蓄 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 4 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.
tā de xíng xiàng yīn wéi nà zhuāng chǔ xù xìn dài chǒu wén ér shòu sǔn。
His image was tarnished by the savings and loan scandal.
9
不能因为他蓄须就说他是嬉皮士。
bù néng yīn wéi tā xù xū jiù shuō tā shì xī pí shì。
Just because he has a beard doesn't necessarily mean he's a hippy.
10
看起来似乎是有人蓄意纵火。
kàn qǐ lái sì hū shì yǒu rén xù yì zòng huǒ。
It looks as if the blaze was started deliberately.
Cultural Notes for 蓄
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, growing a beard is often associated with wisdom and maturity, making 蓄 a significant term when discussing personal appearance and social status.
Word Family of 蓄
Words Containing This Character18
储蓄chǔxùto save儲蓄
积蓄jīxùto save積蓄
蓄意deliberate
蓄xùto store up
含蓄hánxùto contain
蓄水water storage
蓄电池accumulator蓄電池
蓄水池water reservoir
蓄谋to plot蓄謀
养精蓄锐to preserve and nurture one's spirit (idiom); honing one's strength for the big push養精蓄銳
蓄积to accumulate蓄積
储蓄率savings rate儲蓄率
储蓄卡debit card儲蓄卡
兼收并蓄eclectic兼收並蓄
个人储蓄personal savings個人儲蓄
蓄养to raise (animals)蓄養
蕴蓄latent蘊蓄
涵蓄to contain
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 储蓄 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 蓄
Common phrases include 蓄水 (xù shuǐ, to store water) and 蓄电池 (xù diànchí, rechargeable battery).
While it can be used informally, it is more commonly found in written or formal contexts.
No, 蓄 generally has a neutral to positive connotation, referring to preparedness or growth.
