Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
麝 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
麝shèmusk deern, 21 strokes, radical 鹿, rank #46340, Very Hard
麝shèmusk deer (Moschus moschiferus)unknown, 21 strokes, radical 鹿, rank #46340, Very Hard
麝shèalso called 香獐子unknown, 21 strokes, radical 鹿, rank #46340, Very Hard
shè(she4) T4
  1. 1musk deer
  2. 2musk deer (Moschus moschiferus)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
麝shè(she4)

The character '麝' (shè) refers to musk, particularly from the musk deer, known for its strong, distinctive scent. It is often used in perfumery and traditional medicine. In contemporary contexts, it can symbolize rarity and luxury due to the high value of musk.

Strokes21Radical鹿Frequency#46340DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Musk has historically been prized in Chinese culture, particularly in traditional medicine and as an ingredient in perfumes. It is often associated with luxury and status, reflecting its use in ancient royal courts.

Memory Tip

Imagine a deer (the radical '鹿') wearing a musk-scented perfume, making it smell irresistible. The character '麝' has the '鹿' radical, indicating its connection to deer, while the sound 'shè' can be remembered as 'sheer' luxury, evoking the preciousness of musk.

Meanings of 麝

shè(she4)
1musk deer
2musk deer (Moschus moschiferus)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 麝

麝Simplified
21Strokes
鹿Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 麝

JasonAmy

Podcast: 麝

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 麝

Quick Contrast

麝 (musk) vs 香 (fragrance) — use '麝' when specifically referring to musk, often associated with luxury, while '香' is a broader term for any pleasant smell.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a deer (the radical '鹿') wearing a musk-scented perfume, making it smell irresistible. The character '麝' has the '鹿' radical, indicating its connection to deer, while the sound 'shè' can be remembered as 'sheer' luxury, evoking the preciousness of musk.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing '麝' with similar characters that relate to other animals or scents. It is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more prevalent in literary or specialized discussions about perfumery. Be careful with the tone; mispronouncing it could lead to misunderstanding.

HSK Study Tips

Although '麝' is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with words related to animals and scents. Students at higher levels should focus on learning related terms in traditional medicine and perfumery, as they broaden language use in specialized fields.

Cultural Note

Musk has historically been prized in Chinese culture, particularly in traditional medicine and as an ingredient in perfumes. It is often associated with luxury and status, reflecting its use in ancient royal courts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '麝' with '鹿' (deer) when trying to refer to the animal itself. For example, saying '我喜欢鹿的香味' (I like the scent of deer) instead of '我喜欢麝的香味' (I like the scent of musk).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 麝

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 麝 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 麝

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 鹿 represents the meaning and 射 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

deer

Semantic (meaning)鹿
+
Phonetic (sound)射
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 麝?

Decomposition of 麝

IDS Structure⿸鹿射
麝Full Character
=
鹿lu4
enclosing
射she4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 麝?

Write 麝

麝

Practice writing 麝 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 麝

麝 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 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 3

Complete the Sentence

她在两耳后分别擦上一小滴____香香水。

She dabbed a drop of the musky perfume behind each ear.

Example Sentences for 麝 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
她在两耳后分别擦上一小滴麝香香水。

tā zài liǎng ěr hòu fēn bié cā shàng yī xiǎo dī shè xiāng xiāng shuǐ。

She dabbed a drop of the musky perfume behind each ear.
2
他注意到了须后水淡淡的麝香味。

tā zhù yì dào le xū hòu shuǐ dàn dàn de shè xiāng wèi。

He was conscious of the faint, musky aroma of after-shave.
3
多年来,用的较多的固定剂是动物制品龙涎香 、 香猫香 、 麝香、以及河狸香.

duō nián lái, , yòng de jiào duō de gù dìng jì shì dòng wù zhì pǐn lóng xián、 xiāng 、 xiāng、 māo xiāng、 、 shè xiāng 、 yǐ.

For many years the leading fixatives were the animal products ambergris, civet, musk and castoreum.

Cultural Notes for 麝

🏮Cultural insight

Musk has historically been prized in Chinese culture, particularly in traditional medicine and as an ingredient in perfumes. It is often associated with luxury and status, reflecting its use in ancient royal courts.

Word Family of 麝

Words Containing This Character3
麝香musk
麝shèalso called 香獐子
麝牛musk ox
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 麝香 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 麝

Musk is believed to have various medicinal properties, including promoting circulation and relieving pain.