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March 24, 2026
雪xuě(xue3)
The character 雪 (xuě) means 'snow' and refers to the white, frozen precipitation that falls from the sky during winter. It can also denote the act of cleaning or wiping away, symbolically linked to the purity and freshness of snow. In Chinese culture, snow often represents beauty, tranquility, and the changing seasons.
Strokes11Radical雨Frequency#2481DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, snow is often associated with purity and new beginnings. The celebration of the Lunar New Year often includes imagery of snow, symbolizing a fresh start and the hope for a prosperous year ahead.
Memory Tip
Think of 雪 (xuě) as a snowy scene: the radical 雨 (yǔ) represents rain, and the character resembles a fluffy snowflake falling gently from the sky. Imagine standing outside during a snowfall, feeling the cold flakes cover the ground, which helps you remember both the shape and sound.
Meanings of 雪
xuě(xue3)
1snow
2snowfall
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 雪
雪Simplified
11Strokes
雨Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2481Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 雪
Podcast: 雪
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AI Study Notes for 雪
Quick Contrast
雨 (yǔ, rain) - use 雪 when referring to frozen precipitation, while 雨 denotes liquid precipitation.
Usage Notes
When using 雪, ensure you use the correct measure word, which is 场 (cháng) for snowfall events. Be careful with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to misunderstandings; 雪 (xuě) has a falling tone (3rd tone). It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially during winter.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 雪 connects with other weather-related vocabulary, like 晴天 (qíngtiān - sunny day) and 雨 (yǔ - rain). Focus on using it in sentences about seasonal changes, which will reinforce your understanding and usage of related terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 雪 (xuě) with 雨 (yǔ), which means 'rain.' For example, saying '今天下雨' (jīntiān xià yǔ - it is raining today) when they mean to say '今天下雪' (jīntiān xià xuě - it is snowing today) is a common mistake. Additionally, remember to use the correct measure word 场 (cháng) when referring to snowfall.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 雪
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Phonosemantic compound. 雨 represents the meaning and 彗 represents the sound.
1The meaning half雨 carries the sense.
2The sound half彐 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayrain
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 雪? 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 雪?
Decomposition of 雪
IDS Structure⿱雨彐
雪Full Character
=
雨yu3
top
彐ji4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 雪?
How to say snow in Chinese
“snow” in Chinese is雪xuě
The character 雪 (xuě) means 'snow' and refers to the white, frozen precipitation that falls from the sky during winter. It can also denote the act of cleaning or wiping away, symbolically linked to the purity and freshness of snow. In Chinese culture, snow often represents beauty, tranquility, and the changing seasons.
When to use 雪
When using 雪, ensure you use the correct measure word, which is 场 (cháng) for snowfall events. Be careful with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to misunderstandings; 雪 (xuě) has a falling tone (3rd tone). It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially during winter.
雪 or something close to it
雨 (yǔ, rain) - use 雪 when referring to frozen precipitation, while 雨 denotes liquid precipitation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 雪 (xuě) with 雨 (yǔ), which means 'rain.' For example, saying '今天下雨' (jīntiān xià yǔ - it is raining today) when they mean to say '今天下雪' (jīntiān xià xuě - it is snowing today) is a common mistake. Additionally, remember to use the correct measure word 场 (cháng) when referring to snowfall.
Write 雪
雪
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Practice writing 雪 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 雪
雪 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 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.
