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) 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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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
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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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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
Complete the Sentence
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)
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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.
My bulging thighs and flabby stomach made me depressed.
3
说实在的，她没帮上忙，反而成了累赘。
shuō shí zài de， ， tā méi bāng shàng， máng ， fǎn ér chéng le。
To be honest, she was more of a hindrance than a help.
4
汤姆的伤使他成为全队的累赘.
tāng mǔ de shāng shǐ tā chéng wéi quán duì de léi zhuì.
Because of his injury Tom was just a liability to the team.
5
唐的腰间沉甸甸地坠着一圈赘肉。
táng de yāo jiān chén diàn diàn dì zhuì zháo yī quān zhuì ròu。
Don had a hefty roll of flab overhanging his waistband.
6
他肚子上的赘肉堆在皮带上方。
tā dù zǐ shàng de zhuì ròu duī zài pí dài shàng fāng。
His gut sagged out over his belt.
Cultural Notes for 赘
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 赘
Words Containing This Character13
累赘superfluous累贅
赘zhuìsuperfluous贅
赘述to say more than is necessary贅述
赘言superfluous words贅言
入赘to go and live with one's wife's family, in effect becoming a member of her family入贅
赘婿son-in-law living at wife's parent's house贅婿
赘疣wart贅疣
赘余superfluous贅餘
冗赘verbose冗贅
赘瘤useless贅瘤
疣赘wart疣贅
附赘悬疣superfluities附贅懸疣
赘词superfluous words贅詞
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 累赘 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 赘
It refers to a son-in-law who lives with his wife's family, which can imply a dependent or superfluous role.
It's more commonly found in formal contexts or literature, rather than in casual speech.
Make sure to use the fourth tone, pronounced as 'zhuì', to convey its meaning accurately.
