unknown, 21 strokes, radical 骨, rank #29372, Very Hard
髓
suǐ
quintessence
unknown, 21 strokes, radical 骨, rank #29372, Very Hard
髓
suǐ
pith (soft interior of plant stem)
unknown, 21 strokes, radical 骨, rank #29372, Very Hard
suǐ(sui3)sui T3
1substance, essence; bone marrow
2marrow
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March 24, 2026
髓suǐ(sui3)
The character 髓 (suǐ) refers to the soft, fatty substance found within bones, known as bone marrow. It can also denote the essence or substance of something, emphasizing the core or vital part, such as the pith of a plant. In both medical and metaphorical contexts, it highlights the importance of the inner essence of things.
Strokes21Radical骨Frequency#29372DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, bone marrow is considered vital for health, as it is believed to nourish the kidneys and support overall vitality. The understanding of marrow goes beyond biology, linking to concepts of strength and essence in one's health.
Memory Tip
Imagine a soft, squishy center in a bone, representing bone marrow, which is essential for producing blood cells. The character 髓 has components that resemble the structure of bone (bones are often depicted in art with marrow inside), linking its form to its meaning. Remember, 'suǐ' rhymes with 'sway,' like marrow swaying within a bone.
Meanings of 髓
suǐ(sui3)
1substance, essence; bone marrow
2marrow
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 髓 means.
About 髓
髓Simplified
21Strokes
骨Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 髓
Podcast: 髓
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AI Study Notes for 髓
Usage Notes
This character is often used in more formal contexts, especially in medical or literary discussions. Be careful not to confuse it with related terms; for example, using 髓 when referring to more general substances might be inappropriate. Common collocations include 髓质 (marrow quality) and 髓液 (marrow fluid).
HSK Study Tips
While 髓 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to other words related to anatomy (e.g., 骨 'bone'). Students should focus on recognizing this character in texts discussing health or biology, as it can enhance comprehension of more complex ideas.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 髓 with similar-sounding words like 随 (suí), which means 'to follow.' For instance, saying '我想要髓这个' (I want this marrow) instead of '我想要这个髓' (I want this marrow) can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 髓
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How Well Do You Know 髓?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 髓 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.
髓 = 骨 + 遀. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 髓
IDS Structure⿰骨？
髓Full Character
=
骨gu3
left
Exercise 1 of 1
Parts
Which of these is part of 髓?
How to say substance, essence; bone marrow in Chinese
“substance, essence; bone marrow” in Chinese is髓suǐ
The character 髓 (suǐ) refers to the soft, fatty substance found within bones, known as bone marrow. It can also denote the essence or substance of something, emphasizing the core or vital part, such as the pith of a plant. In both medical and metaphorical contexts, it highlights the importance of the inner essence of things.
When to use 髓
This character is often used in more formal contexts, especially in medical or literary discussions. Be careful not to confuse it with related terms; for example, using 髓 when referring to more general substances might be inappropriate. Common collocations include 髓质 (marrow quality) and 髓液 (marrow fluid).
What learners get wrong
Learners might confuse 髓 with similar-sounding words like 随 (suí), which means 'to follow.' For instance, saying '我想要髓这个' (I want this marrow) instead of '我想要这个髓' (I want this marrow) can lead to misunderstandings.
Write 髓
髓
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Practice writing 髓 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 髓
髓 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 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
跟肉铺老板要煲汤用的骨头（最好是____骨）。
Ask the butcher for soup bones (marrow bones are best).
Example Sentences for 髓 (9)
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1
跟肉铺老板要煲汤用的骨头（最好是髓骨）。
gēn ròu pū lǎo bǎn yào bāo tāng yòng de gǔ tóu（ （ zuì hǎo shì suǐ）。
Ask the butcher for soup bones (marrow bones are best).
