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March 24, 2026
飕(颼)sōu(sou1)
The character 飕 (sōu) refers to a chill breeze or the sound of wind blowing. It is often used in literary contexts to describe a gentle, soothing movement of air. This word can evoke feelings of tranquility or the natural environment, commonly found in poetry or descriptions of nature.
Strokes13Radical风Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese poetry, references to breezes and the sounds of wind often symbolize freedom and the natural flow of life. The use of 飕 in literature can evoke deep emotions and a connection with nature, which is a prominent theme in traditional Chinese art.
Memory Tip
Imagine a soft breeze blowing through the trees, making a 'sōu' sound as it caresses your skin. The character 飕 has the radical for 'food' (食) at the bottom, which you can think of as 'feeding' into the air, bringing life to the sounds of nature.
Meanings of 飕
sōu(sou1)
1a chill breeze; to blow; the sound of the wind
2to blow (as of wind)
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 飕
飕Simplified
颼Traditional
13Strokes
风Radical
拟声词onomatopoeia (onom.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 飕
Podcast: 飕
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AI Study Notes for 飕
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a soft breeze blowing through the trees, making a 'sōu' sound as it caresses your skin. The character 飕 has the radical for 'food' (食) at the bottom, which you can think of as 'feeding' into the air, bringing life to the sounds of nature.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 飕 with similar-sounding characters. It is primarily used in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation, so be cautious not to use it in informal settings. Common collocations include phrases describing nature or weather, such as '飕飕的风' (sōu sōu de fēng) meaning 'the sound of breezy wind.'
HSK Study Tips
While 飕 is not included in the HSK curriculum, understanding it can enhance your vocabulary related to nature and weather. It connects to other words related to wind and sound, so focus on learning those in conjunction.
Cultural Note
In Chinese poetry, references to breezes and the sounds of wind often symbolize freedom and the natural flow of life. The use of 飕 in literature can evoke deep emotions and a connection with nature, which is a prominent theme in traditional Chinese art.
Common Mistakes
Learners often incorrectly pronounce 飕 as 'sù' instead of 'sōu.' It's important to remember the correct tone, as it changes the meaning entirely. Additionally, some may confuse it with related terms for wind, such as 风 (fēng).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 飕
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Grammar Patterns of 飕
飕 functions as an onomatopoeic word — it imitates a sound. It often functions as an adverbial or stand-alone exclamation rather than a true verb or noun. It carries 4 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
天冷了, 风吹在身上冷____飕的.
It's getting cold, and one feels chilly when the wind blows.
It's getting cold, and one feels chilly when the wind blows.
2
冷飕飕的风吹动着他周边的矮树丛，沙沙声刚好盖过了吟唱的声音。
lěng sōu sōu de fēng chuī dòng zháo tā zhōu biān de ǎi shù cóng， ， shā shā shēng gāng hǎo gài guò le yín chàng de shēng。
The cold breeze moved through the bushes around him, whispering just loud enough to obscure the chanting.
3
李玉亭觉得背脊上有些冷飕飕了.
lǐ yù tíng jué dé bèi jǐ shàng yǒu xiē lěng sōu sōu le.
A cold shiver ran down Li Yu - ting's spine.
4
我慢慢地走着, 在冷飕飕的空气中眨着眼睛.
wǒ màn màn dì zǒu zháo, , zài lěng sōu sōu de kōng qì zhōng zhǎ zháo yǎn.
I walked slowly on, blinking my eyes in the chill air.
Cultural Notes for 飕
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese poetry, references to breezes and the sounds of wind often symbolize freedom and the natural flow of life. The use of 飕 in literature can evoke deep emotions and a connection with nature, which is a prominent theme in traditional Chinese art.
Word Family of 飕
Words Containing This Character3
冷飕飕chilled to the bone冷颼颼
飕飕sound of the wind blowing or rain falling颼颼
飕sōusough颼
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 冷飕飕 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 飕
No, 飕 is more commonly found in literary or poetic contexts rather than in daily speech.
The correct pronunciation is 'sōu,' with a high-level tone.
You might encounter phrases like '飕飕作响' (sōu sōu zuò xiǎng), which describes the sound of the wind.
