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藪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
藪sǒuswamp, marsh; wild countryx, 19 strokes, radical 艹
sǒu(sou3)sou T3
  1. 1swamp, marsh; wild country
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March 24, 2026

藪sǒu(sou3)

The character 藪 (sǒu) refers to a swamp or marsh, often characterized by dense vegetation and a wet environment. It can also signify wild or untamed countryside, indicating areas that are less inhabited or explored. This term is commonly used in literary contexts or discussions about nature and ecology.

Strokes19Radical艹
Cultural note

In Chinese literature and poetry, 藪 is often used to evoke imagery of wild, untouched nature, reflecting traditional values of harmony with the environment. It connects to the concept of '田园' (tián yuán), or pastoral life, which is highly regarded in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'sow' (sounds like 'sǒu') wandering through a thick, muddy swamp surrounded by tall grasses. The character 藪 has the grass radical (艹) at the top, suggesting a connection to plants and nature. Visualize the sow getting lost in the wild, representing the untamed wilderness of a marsh.

Meanings of 藪

sǒu(sou3)
1swamp, marsh; wild country
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 藪

藪Simplified
19Strokes
艹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 藪

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AI study notes for 藪

Quick Contrast

沼 (zhǎo) refers specifically to a swamp or marsh, emphasizing the waterlogged aspect, while 藪 (sǒu) conveys a sense of dense vegetation and wild countryside.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 藪 with similar characters like 沼 (zhǎo), which also means swamp but has a different nuance. It is more formal and typically found in literary texts, so be cautious of using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include 藪泽 (sǒu zé), meaning 'marshland'.

HSK Study Tips

Although 藪 is not included in the HSK levels, it is useful for students aiming to expand their vocabulary related to nature and geography. Focus on its usage in descriptive contexts, as it can help improve comprehension of texts related to environmental topics.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes incorrectly use 藪 when describing a wetland area that is cultivated or managed, which would be better represented by 沼. Always remember that 藪 implies a more wild and natural setting.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 藪

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Etymology of 藪

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

grass

Semantic (meaning)艹
+
Phonetic (sound)數
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

藪 = 艹 + 數. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 藪

IDS Structure⿱艹數
藪Full character
=
艹cao3
top
數shu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 藪?

How to say swamp, marsh; wild country in Chinese

“swamp, marsh; wild country” in Chinese is藪sǒu

The character 藪 (sǒu) refers to a swamp or marsh, often characterized by dense vegetation and a wet environment. It can also signify wild or untamed countryside, indicating areas that are less inhabited or explored. This term is commonly used in literary contexts or discussions about nature and ecology.

When to use 藪

Learners often confuse 藪 with similar characters like 沼 (zhǎo), which also means swamp but has a different nuance. It is more formal and typically found in literary texts, so be cautious of using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include 藪泽 (sǒu zé), meaning 'marshland'.

藪 or something close to it

沼 (zhǎo) refers specifically to a swamp or marsh, emphasizing the waterlogged aspect, while 藪 (sǒu) conveys a sense of dense vegetation and wild countryside.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes incorrectly use 藪 when describing a wetland area that is cultivated or managed, which would be better represented by 沼. Always remember that 藪 implies a more wild and natural setting.

Write 藪

藪

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

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Word Family of 藪

Words containing this character2
薮sǒumarsh藪
渊薮lair淵藪
Exercise 1 of 2

Characters with 藪

What does 薮 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 藪

While both refer to wetland areas, 藪 emphasizes wild, untamed vegetation, whereas 沼 is often used more generally for swamps.

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