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) 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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 髓
髓Simplified
21Strokes
骨Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 髓
Podcast: 髓
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
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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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Drill the tone of 髓 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
2The sound half遀 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaybone
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 髓? 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 髓?
Decomposition of 髓
IDS Structure⿰骨？
髓Full Character
=
骨gu3
left
Exercise 1 of 1
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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
Complete the Sentence
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).
