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蜀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蜀shǔshort name for Sichuan 四川[Si4 chuan1] provinceunknown, 13 strokes, radical 虫, rank #33294, Very Hard
蜀shǔthe name of an ancient statej, 13 strokes, radical 虫, rank #33294, Very Hard
蜀shǔone of the Three Kingdoms 三國|三国[San1 guo2] after the fall of the Han dynastyunknown, 13 strokes, radical 虫, rank #33294, Very Hard
shǔ(Shu3)shu T3
  1. 1short name for Sichuan 四川[Si4 chuan1] province
  2. 2the name of an ancient state
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March 24, 2026

蜀shǔ(Shu3)

The character 蜀 (shǔ) refers to an ancient state that existed during the Three Kingdoms period in China, specifically in what is now Sichuan province. It is often used to denote the historical region and its significance in Chinese history, particularly after the Han dynasty's decline.

Strokes13Radical虫Frequency#33294DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

蜀 is closely tied to Sichuan cuisine, known for its bold flavors and use of Sichuan peppercorn, reflecting the culture and identity of the region. The history of the Shu Kingdom plays a significant role in many Chinese historical tales and folklore.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'shoo' (shǔ) shoe being worn in the lush, mountainous landscapes of Sichuan, where the ancient state of 蜀 thrived. The 蜀 character visually resembles a 'bug' (虫) under a 'roof' (阝), representing the rich biodiversity and natural beauty of Sichuan.

Meanings of 蜀

shǔ(Shu3)
1short name for Sichuan 四川[Si4 chuan1] province
2the name of an ancient state
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 蜀

蜀Simplified
13Strokes
虫Radical
简称abbreviation (abbr.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蜀

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Podcast: 蜀

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AI Study Notes for 蜀

Usage Notes

蜀 is primarily used in historical contexts or when discussing Sichuan province. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, and remember that it is more formal than colloquial. Common collocations include 蜀汉 (Shǔ Hàn), referring to the Shu Han state.

HSK Study Tips

While 蜀 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, learners should connect it with related terms like 四川 (Sìchuān) and 三国 (Sānguó). Focusing on historical narratives can help in memorizing such proper nouns.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蜀 with similar-sounding characters like 书 (shū, book) or 属 (shǔ, belong). For example, saying '我属蜀' (I belong to 蜀) instead of '我来自蜀' (I come from 蜀) can lead to confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蜀

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Etymology of 蜀

Explanation

Pictograph of a silkworm. Can Cong (蠶叢), the legendary ruler of the kingdom of Shu (modern-day Sichuan), was said to have been the inventor of silk.

Learn more about character formation (六书)
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 蜀?

Decomposition of 蜀

IDS Structure⿱罒⿹勹虫
蜀Full character
=
罒wang3
top
勹bao1
enclosing
虫chong2
inner
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 蜀?

How to say short name for Sichuan 四川[Si4 chuan1] province in Chinese

“short name for Sichuan 四川[Si4 chuan1] province” in Chinese is蜀shǔ

The character 蜀 (shǔ) refers to an ancient state that existed during the Three Kingdoms period in China, specifically in what is now Sichuan province. It is often used to denote the historical region and its significance in Chinese history, particularly after the Han dynasty's decline.

When to use 蜀

蜀 is primarily used in historical contexts or when discussing Sichuan province. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, and remember that it is more formal than colloquial. Common collocations include 蜀汉 (Shǔ Hàn), referring to the Shu Han state.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蜀 with similar-sounding characters like 书 (shū, book) or 属 (shǔ, belong). For example, saying '我属蜀' (I belong to 蜀) instead of '我来自蜀' (I come from 蜀) can lead to confusion.

Write 蜀

蜀

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

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Grammar Patterns of 蜀

蜀 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

舟曲西 、 南部一度为____将姜维屯田的沓中地区.

Zhouqu West, the Southern will once Shu Jiang Da Dynasty's regions.

Example Sentences for 蜀 (1)

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1
舟曲西 、 南部一度为蜀将姜维屯田的沓中地区.

zhōu qū xī、 、 nán bù yī dù wéi shǔ jiāng jiāng wéi tún tián de tà zhōng dì.

Zhouqu West, the Southern will once Shu Jiang Da Dynasty's regions.

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Word Family of 蜀

Words containing this character11
蜀shǔshort name for Sichuan 四川[Sì​chuān] province
蜀葵hollyhock
乐不思蜀indulge in pleasure and forget home and duty (idiom)樂不思蜀
蜀山Shushan district of Hefei city 合肥市[Hé​féi​shì], Anhui
玉蜀黍corn
巴蜀Sichuan
蜀汉Shu Han (c. 200-263), Liu Bei's kingdom in Sichuan during the Three Kingdoms, claiming legitimacy as successor of Han蜀漢
蜀山区Shushan district of Hefei city 合肥市[Hé​féi​shì], Anhui蜀山區
蜀锦brocade from Sichuan蜀錦
得陇望蜀fig. endless greed得隴望蜀
蜀犬吠日alludes to the Sichuan foggy weather where it's uncommon to see a sunny day
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 蜀

What does 蜀葵 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蜀

In modern contexts, 蜀 often refers to Sichuan province, known for its rich culture and cuisine.

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