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叔叔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
叔叔
shūshu
father's younger brother
HSK 3, n, 16 strokes, rank #1175, Medium
叔叔
shūshu
uncle
HSK 3, n, 16 strokes, rank #1175, Medium
叔叔
shūshu
Taiwan pr. [shú shu]
HSK 3, n, 16 strokes, rank #1175, Medium
叔叔
shūshu
Taiwan pr. [shu2 shu5]
HSK 3, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #1175, Medium
shūshu(shu1shu5)shu shu T1
1father's younger brother
2uncle
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March 24, 2026
叔叔shūshu(shu1shu5)
叔叔 (shūshu) refers specifically to one's father's younger brother, but it is also commonly used to address any older male family friend or acquaintance in a respectful or familial manner. This term is a way to convey warmth and respect, often used in both formal and informal contexts.
Strokes16Frequency#1175DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, addressing someone as 叔叔 reflects a sense of community and respect for elders. It is common for children to use this term for family friends, which emphasizes the importance of familial-like bonds in social interactions.
Memory tip
Imagine a young boy (叔) wearing a big hat (叔), symbolizing his youthful status as the younger brother. The hat connects the sound 'shū' to 'uncle' as it represents warmth and protection, like an uncle's role in a child's life. Picture the boy proudly introducing his uncle at a family gathering.
Meanings of 叔叔
shūshu(shu1shu5)
1father's younger brother
2uncle
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About 叔叔
叔叔Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1175Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 叔叔
Podcast: 叔叔
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AI study notes for 叔叔
Quick Contrast
舅舅 (jiùjiu) refers to one's mother's brother, while 叔叔 (shūshu) specifically refers to one's father's younger brother.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 叔叔 with other family terms like '舅舅' (jiùjiu), which means maternal uncle. While 叔叔 can be used informally for older male acquaintances, using it in a formal context may seem too casual. Remember to use the correct tone: the first syllable (shū) is high-level, while the second (shu) is neutral.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 3, students should focus on family terms, as they help in building vocabulary around personal relationships. 叔叔 is a good example of how familial terms can expand to broader social contexts, so practice using it in various sentences about family members.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 叔叔 with other family terms like 舅舅 (jiùjiu). For example, saying '我的舅舅' (wǒ de jiùjiu) when referring to a father's younger brother is incorrect; the correct term is '我的叔叔' (wǒ de shūshu).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 叔叔
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叔叔 (shūshu) refers specifically to one's father's younger brother, but it is also commonly used to address any older male family friend or acquaintance in a respectful or familial manner. This term is a way to convey warmth and respect, often used in both formal and informal contexts.
When to use 叔叔
Be careful not to confuse 叔叔 with other family terms like '舅舅' (jiùjiu), which means maternal uncle. While 叔叔 can be used informally for older male acquaintances, using it in a formal context may seem too casual. Remember to use the correct tone: the first syllable (shū) is high-level, while the second (shu) is neutral.
叔叔 or something close to it
舅舅 (jiùjiu) refers to one's mother's brother, while 叔叔 (shūshu) specifically refers to one's father's younger brother.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 叔叔 with other family terms like 舅舅 (jiùjiu). For example, saying '我的舅舅' (wǒ de jiùjiu) when referring to a father's younger brother is incorrect; the correct term is '我的叔叔' (wǒ de shūshu).
Write 叔叔
叔
叔
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Grammar patterns of 叔叔
叔叔 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 4 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.
