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谇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
谇suìto slander, to defame; to berateg, 10 strokes, radical 讠
谇suìabuseunknown, 10 strokes, radical 讠
suì(sui4)sui T4
  1. 1to slander, to defame; to berate
  2. 2abuse
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March 24, 2026

谇(誶)suì(sui4)

The character 谇 (suì) refers to the act of slandering or defaming someone, often involving harsh criticism or abusive language. It is commonly used in contexts where someone's reputation is unjustly tarnished, highlighting the severity of the words used against them.

Strokes10Radical讠
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, maintaining one's reputation is highly valued, and slander can have significant social consequences. The concept of face (面子, miànzi) is deeply intertwined with the implications of 谇.

Memory tip

Think of 谇 (suì) as a 'sue' for slander. Imagine a courtroom where someone is being sued for spreading false rumors, which helps connect the sound 'suì' with the meaning of defamation.

Meanings of 谇

suì(sui4)
1to slander, to defame; to berate
2abuse
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 谇

谇Simplified
誶Traditional
10Strokes
讠Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 谇

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AI Study Notes for 谇

Usage Notes

It's important to use 谇 in contexts where you are discussing serious accusations or criticisms, as it carries a heavy connotation. Be cautious with tone, as using it inappropriately might lead to misunderstandings about the severity of the situation.

HSK Study Tips

Though not included in HSK levels, understanding 谇 can enhance your vocabulary around legal and social issues. Focus on its relation to other words about reputation and communication, such as 诽谤 (fěibàng, to slander) and 批评 (pīpíng, to criticize).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 谇 with similar sounding words like 随 (suí, to follow) due to pronunciation similarities. It's important to remember that 谇 is specifically about slander, while 随 relates to following or accompanying.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 谇

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Etymology of 谇

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

speech

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

Origin

谇 = 讠 + 卒. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 谇

IDS Structure⿰讠卒
谇Full character
=
讠yan2
left
卒cu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 谇?

How to say to slander, to defame; to berate in Chinese

“to slander, to defame; to berate” in Chinese is谇suì

The character 谇 (suì) refers to the act of slandering or defaming someone, often involving harsh criticism or abusive language. It is commonly used in contexts where someone's reputation is unjustly tarnished, highlighting the severity of the words used against them.

When to use 谇

It's important to use 谇 in contexts where you are discussing serious accusations or criticisms, as it carries a heavy connotation. Be cautious with tone, as using it inappropriately might lead to misunderstandings about the severity of the situation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 谇 with similar sounding words like 随 (suí, to follow) due to pronunciation similarities. It's important to remember that 谇 is specifically about slander, while 随 relates to following or accompanying.

Write 谇

谇

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

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Word Family of 谇

Words containing this character1
谇suìabuse誶

Frequently Asked Questions about 谇

No, it is a formal term and should be used in serious contexts, especially when discussing issues of reputation.

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