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雪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
雪xuěsnowHSK 1, n, 11 strokes, radical 雨, rank #2481, Easy
雪xuěsnowfallHSK 1, n, 11 strokes, radical 雨, rank #2481, Easy
雪xuěto have the appearance of snowHSK 1, n, 11 strokes, radical 雨, rank #2481, Easy
雪xuěto wipe away, off or outHSK 1, n, 11 strokes, radical 雨, rank #2481, Easy
雪xuěto cleanHSK 1, n, 11 strokes, radical 雨, rank #2481, Easy
雪xuěsnow; wipe away shame, avengeHSK 1, n, 11 strokes, radical 雨, rank #2481, Easy
雪xuěsurname XueHSK 1, n, 11 strokes, radical 雨, rank #2481, Easy
xuě(xue3)xue T3
  1. 1snow
  2. 2snowfall
Also a Chinese surname, Xue — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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

By ear

Play it, then pick what 雪 means.

About 雪

雪Simplified
11Strokes
雨Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2481Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 雪

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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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Etymology of 雪

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

Phonosemantic compound. 雨 represents the meaning and 彗 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

rain

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

Origin

雪 = 雨 + 彐. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 雪

IDS Structure⿱雨彐
雪Full Character
=
雨yu3
top
彐ji4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part 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

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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

外面下____了,我们去堆雪人吧!

It's snowing outside, let's go build a snowman!

Example Sentences for 雪 (16)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
nsnow4
1
外面下雪了,我们去堆雪人吧!

Wàimiàn xià xuě le, wǒmen qù duī xuěrén ba!

It's snowing outside, let's go build a snowman!
2
这座山冬天总是有很多雪。

Zhè zuò shān dōngtiān zǒngshì yǒu hěn duō xuě.

This mountain always has a lot of snow in winter.
3
孩子们在雪地里快乐地玩耍。

Háizimen zài xuědì lǐ kuàilè de wánshuǎ.

The children are happily playing in the snow.
4
下雪的时候,开车要小心。

Xià xuě de shíhou, kāichē yào xiǎoxīn.

Be careful when driving in the snow.
nsurname Xue12
5
雪利的兄弟现在在瑞典做心脏外科高级顾问医师。

xuě lì de xiōng dì xiàn zài zài ruì diǎn zuò xīn zāng wài kē gāo jí gù wèn yī shī。

Shirley's brother is now a consultant heart surgeon in Sweden.
6
雪花如刀割般刮在他的脸上,他绷紧了双肩。

xuě huā rú dāo gē bān guā zài tā de liǎn shàng, , tā bēng jǐn le shuāng。

He braced his shoulders as the snow slashed across his face.
7
我们可能要一起被大雪困在这里好几天。

wǒ mén kě néng yào yī qǐ bèi dà xuě kùn zài zhè lǐ hǎo jī tiān。

We may all be snowed in here together for days.
8
路上不时会有吹聚起的积雪,泥泞而湿滑。

lù shàng bù shí huì yǒu chuī jù qǐ de jī xuě, , ní nìng ér shī。

Here and there a drift across the road was wet and slushy.
9
空气非常寒冷,似乎有雪的味道。

kōng qì fēi cháng hán lěng, , sì hū yǒu xuě de wèi。

There was a bite in the air, a smell perhaps of snow.
10
路边某些地方的积雪有六英尺深。

lù biān mǒu xiē dì fāng de jī xuě yǒu liù yīng chǐ shēn。

The snow along the roadside was six feet deep in places.
11
肯塔基州北部可能有雨夹雪。

kěn tǎ jī zhōu běi bù kě néng yǒu yǔ jiā xuě。

Northern Kentucky is likely to get snow mixed with sleet.
12
滑雪板、滑雪靴和滑雪服皆有出租。

huá xuě bǎn、 、 huá xuě xuē hé huá xuě fú jiē yǒu chū。

Hire of skis, boots and clothing, is all available.
13
天气预报员说不久还将有降雪。

tiān qì yù bào yuán shuō bù jiǔ huán jiāng yǒu jiàng xuě。

The forecasters say more snow is on the way.
14
“瞧,又来了不是?又惹孩子伤心!”雪莉说。

“ “, qiáo , yòu lái le? bù shì ? yòu rě hái!” zǐ shāng xīn。

"There you go again, upsetting the child!" said Shirley.
15
这是我第一次见到姓雪的人。

Zhè shì wǒ dì yī cì jiàn dào xìng Xuě de rén.

This is the first time I've met someone with the surname Xue.
16
雪先生是我们的中文老师。

Xuě xiānshēng shì wǒmen de zhōngwén lǎoshī.

Mr. Xue is our Chinese teacher.

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Word Family of 雪

Compounds6
鳕xue3codfish
鱈xue3codfish
樰
膤
艝
轌
Words Containing This Character20
雪xuěsnow
滑雪huáxuěto ski
下雪xiàxuěto snow
雪茄cigar (loanword)
雪花snowflake
雪橇sled
冰雪bīngxuěice and snow
大雪Daxue or Great Snow, 21st of the 24 solar terms 二十四節氣|二十四节气 7th-21st December
小雪Xiaoxue or Lesser Snow, 20th of the 24 solar terms 二十四節氣|二十四节气 22nd November-6th December
暴风雪snowstorm暴風雪
雪糕frozen treat
白雪snow
雪人snowman
雪白snow white
雪上加霜xuěshàngjiāshuāngto make things worse in a bad situation
积雪snow積雪
雪球snowball
白雪公主Snow White
雪铁龙Citroën (French car manufacturer)雪鐵龍
雪峰snowy peak
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 雪

What does 鳕 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 雪

You would say '在下雪' (zài xià xuě).

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