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March 24, 2026
逊(遜)xùn(xun4)
The character 逊 (xùn) primarily conveys the idea of modesty and yielding, often used in contexts where someone humbly defers to another or acknowledges their inferiority in some capacity. It can also refer to abdicating power or status, suggesting a gracious surrender rather than a defeat.
Strokes9Radical辶Frequency#4985DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, humility is highly valued, and 逊 embodies this virtue. It reflects the Confucian ideal of modesty, where acknowledging one's limitations and deferring to others is seen as a strength rather than a weakness.
Memory Tip
Imagine a humble king who is so modest that he abdicates his throne to a younger ruler. The character 逊 has a radical that resembles a person yielding or stepping aside, symbolizing their unpretentious nature and willingness to let others shine.
Meanings of 逊
xùn(xun4)
1to abdicate
2modest
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 逊
逊Simplified
遜Traditional
9Strokes
辶Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#4985Frequency Rank
Podcast: 逊
Podcast: 逊
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AI Study Notes for 逊
Quick Contrast
逊 (xùn) vs 屈 (qū) — use 逊 when emphasizing modesty and yielding, while 屈 conveys a sense of bending or submitting under pressure.
Usage Notes
While 逊 can imply humility, it is essential to understand its context to avoid sounding overly self-deprecating. It is commonly used in formal settings, such as in discussions of leadership or social hierarchies. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words that have a more negative connotation.
HSK Study Tips
Although 逊 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with themes of social interaction and respect found in HSK levels 4 and 5. Students should focus on understanding its use in phrases related to hierarchy and etiquette.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 逊 with similar characters like 逊色 (xùn sè), which means 'inferior' in quality but can lead to misunderstandings. Instead of using 逊 to describe something as 'bad,' use it in contexts of humility or deferral.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 逊
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Phonosemantic compound. 辶 represents the meaning and 孙 represents the sound. Simplified form of 遜.
1The meaning half辶 carries the sense.
2The sound half孙 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywalk
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 逊? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 逊?
Decomposition of 逊
IDS Structure⿺辶孙
逊Full Character
=
辶chuo4
enclosing
孙Sun1
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 逊?
How to say to abdicate in Chinese
“to abdicate” in Chinese is逊xùn
The character 逊 (xùn) primarily conveys the idea of modesty and yielding, often used in contexts where someone humbly defers to another or acknowledges their inferiority in some capacity. It can also refer to abdicating power or status, suggesting a gracious surrender rather than a defeat.
When to use 逊
While 逊 can imply humility, it is essential to understand its context to avoid sounding overly self-deprecating. It is commonly used in formal settings, such as in discussions of leadership or social hierarchies. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words that have a more negative connotation.
逊 or something close to it
逊 (xùn) vs 屈 (qū) — use 逊 when emphasizing modesty and yielding, while 屈 conveys a sense of bending or submitting under pressure.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 逊 with similar characters like 逊色 (xùn sè), which means 'inferior' in quality but can lead to misunderstandings. Instead of using 逊 to describe something as 'bad,' use it in contexts of humility or deferral.
Write 逊
逊
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Practice writing 逊 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 逊
逊 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
由于约翰____东窗事发，他们的体育声誉受到了严重损害。
Their sporting reputation has suffered enormously from Johnson's exposure.
Example Sentences for 逊 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
由于约翰逊东窗事发，他们的体育声誉受到了严重损害。
yóu yú yuē hàn xùn dōng chuāng shì fā， ， tā mén de tǐ yù shēng yù shòu dào le yán zhòng sǔn。
Their sporting reputation has suffered enormously from Johnson's exposure.
