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March 24, 2026
蔬shū(shu1)
The character 蔬 (shū) refers to vegetables, particularly leafy greens and other edible plants. It is commonly used in contexts related to cooking, health, and nutrition, emphasizing the importance of vegetables in a balanced diet.
Strokes15Radical艹Frequency#32159DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, vegetables are a staple, often featured prominently in meals to promote health and balance. The concept of eating a variety of vegetables is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese medicine.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'shoo' sound as you chase away a group of vegetables that are trying to sneak into your kitchen. The character 蔬 has the radical for 'plant' (艹) on top, suggesting it's a type of plant, thus linking it to vegetables.
Meanings of 蔬
shū(shu1)
1vegetables
2vegetables, greens
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 蔬
蔬Simplified
15Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#32159Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蔬
Podcast: 蔬
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AI Study Notes for 蔬
Quick Contrast
蔬 (vegetables) vs 菜 (dishes/vegetables) — use 蔬 when emphasizing the category of vegetables, while 菜 can refer to both vegetables and prepared dishes.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 蔬 with other similar terms like 菜 (cài), which can refer to dishes or vegetables in a broader sense. 蔬 is more specific to the raw form of vegetables. In formal writing, 蔬 is preferred when discussing health and nutrition.
HSK Study Tips
Although 蔬 is not included in the HSK word list, it is relevant for learners focusing on food-related vocabulary. Linking it with other food terms like 食物 (shíwù, food) can enhance your vocabulary about meals.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蔬 with 菜 (cài), leading to misunderstandings. For instance, saying '我喜欢蔬' (Wǒ xǐhuān shū) is incorrect when referring to dishes; it should be '我喜欢菜' (Wǒ xǐhuān cài).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蔬
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2The sound half疏 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.
Want the full history of 蔬? 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 蔬?
Decomposition of 蔬
IDS Structure⿱艹疏
蔬Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
疏shu1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 蔬?
How to say vegetables in Chinese
“vegetables” in Chinese is蔬shū
The character 蔬 (shū) refers to vegetables, particularly leafy greens and other edible plants. It is commonly used in contexts related to cooking, health, and nutrition, emphasizing the importance of vegetables in a balanced diet.
When to use 蔬
Be careful not to confuse 蔬 with other similar terms like 菜 (cài), which can refer to dishes or vegetables in a broader sense. 蔬 is more specific to the raw form of vegetables. In formal writing, 蔬 is preferred when discussing health and nutrition.
蔬 or something close to it
蔬 (vegetables) vs 菜 (dishes/vegetables) — use 蔬 when emphasizing the category of vegetables, while 菜 can refer to both vegetables and prepared dishes.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 蔬 with 菜 (cài), leading to misunderstandings. For instance, saying '我喜欢蔬' (Wǒ xǐhuān shū) is incorrect when referring to dishes; it should be '我喜欢菜' (Wǒ xǐhuān cài).
Write 蔬
蔬
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Practice writing 蔬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 蔬
蔬 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.
