unknown, 14 strokes, radical 贝, rank #23122, Very Hard
赘
zhuì
cumbersome
unknown, 14 strokes, radical 贝, rank #23122, Very Hard
赘
zhuì
refers to a son-in-law living with wife's family
unknown, 14 strokes, radical 贝, rank #23122, Very Hard
zhuì(zhui4)zhui T4
1unnecessary, superfluous
2redundant
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March 24, 2026
赘(贅)zhuì(zhui4)
The character 赘 (zhuì) refers to something unnecessary or superfluous, often conveying a sense of redundancy or burden. It can also describe a son-in-law who lives with his wife's family, highlighting a traditional familial dynamic in Chinese culture.
Strokes14Radical贝Frequency#23122DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese families, the concept of a son-in-law living with his wife's family (赘婿) reflects historical family structures and the importance of lineage and support networks.
Memory Tip
Imagine a heavy, unnecessary weight (赘) hanging from your shoulders, making you feel cumbersome. The character resembles a person burdened with superfluous items, making you think of 'zhuì' as something that drags you down.
Meanings of 赘
zhuì(zhui4)
1unnecessary, superfluous
2redundant
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 赘 means.
About 赘
赘Simplified
贅Traditional
14Strokes
贝Radical
形容词性语素xíngróngcíadjective root (adj.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 赘
Podcast: 赘
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
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AI Study Notes for 赘
Quick Contrast
赘 (zhuì) vs 多余 (duōyú) — use 赘 when referring specifically to something burdensome or redundant in a familial context.
Usage Notes
赘 is often used in formal contexts to describe unnecessary things, but it can also carry a negative connotation when referring to a son-in-law. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the fourth tone is essential for correct pronunciation.
HSK Study Tips
While 赘 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it shares roots with other characters that discuss familial relationships and the concept of burden. Students should focus on its usage in both everyday conversation and literary contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 赘 with other characters that sound similar, such as '追' (zhuī). Remember that 赘 refers specifically to something unnecessary or superfluous, while 追 pertains to pursuing or chasing something.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 赘
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How Well Do You Know 赘?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 赘 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
赘 = 敖 + 贝. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 赘
IDS Structure⿱敖贝
赘Full Character
=
敖Ao2
top
贝Bei4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 赘?
How to say unnecessary, superfluous in Chinese
“unnecessary, superfluous” in Chinese is赘zhuì
The character 赘 (zhuì) refers to something unnecessary or superfluous, often conveying a sense of redundancy or burden. It can also describe a son-in-law who lives with his wife's family, highlighting a traditional familial dynamic in Chinese culture.
When to use 赘
赘 is often used in formal contexts to describe unnecessary things, but it can also carry a negative connotation when referring to a son-in-law. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the fourth tone is essential for correct pronunciation.
赘 or something close to it
赘 (zhuì) vs 多余 (duōyú) — use 赘 when referring specifically to something burdensome or redundant in a familial context.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 赘 with other characters that sound similar, such as '追' (zhuī). Remember that 赘 refers specifically to something unnecessary or superfluous, while 追 pertains to pursuing or chasing something.
Write 赘
赘
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Practice writing 赘 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 赘
赘 carries 4 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
这家机构把它那复杂累____的名称改得好记一些了。
The organization changed its cumbersome title to something easier to remember.
Example Sentences for 赘 (6)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这家机构把它那复杂累赘的名称改得好记一些了。
zhè jiā jī gòu bǎ tā nà fù zá léi zhuì de míng chēng gǎi dé hǎo jì yī xiē le。
The organization changed its cumbersome title to something easier to remember.
