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March 24, 2026
帅(帥)shuài(Shuai4)
The character 帅 (shuài) primarily means 'handsome' or 'graceful', often used to describe a person's appearance or demeanor. Additionally, it can refer to a military commander or chief, conveying authority and leadership. In informal contexts, it can be used to express that something is 'cool' or 'sweet'.
Strokes5Radical巾Frequency#1261DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In contemporary Chinese culture, physical appearance carries significant weight, and compliments using 帅 can enhance social interactions. It's common to hear people use it in casual conversations, particularly among younger generations.
Memory Tip
Imagine a handsome general (帅) standing tall in his graceful attire, commanding respect and admiration. The left part (毛) could symbolize his stylish hair, while the right part (帅) represents his commanding presence. Picture him saying 'Shuài!' as he impresses everyone around him.
Meanings of 帅
shuài(Shuai4)
1handsome
2graceful
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 帅
帅Simplified
帥Traditional
5Strokes
巾Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1261Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 帅
Podcast: 帅
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AI Study Notes for 帅
Quick Contrast
帅 (handsome) vs 英俊 (handsome, but with a more refined or elegant connotation) — use 帅 for a more casual or confident tone.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; 帅 is pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone), which can change its meaning if mispronounced. It's often used in informal settings when complimenting someone's looks or style. Common collocations include 帅哥 (handsome guy) and 帅气 (handsome/cool).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 帅 connects with other adjectives describing people, such as 漂亮 (piàoliang, pretty) and 可爱 (kě'ài, cute). Students should focus on using it in context, especially when discussing personal impressions or attributes.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 帅 with similar sounding words; for example, some may say 'shui' instead of 'shuài'. It's also common to overuse it in formal contexts where a more reserved term would be appropriate.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 帅
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How Well Do You Know 帅?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 帅 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
Simplified form of 帥. Originally a pictograph of two hands pulling a rod, based on the original meaning "lead; command". The meaning later shifted to "handsome". The purpose of the 巾 (cloth) is unclear. It possibly represents a special cloth worn by
The character 帅 (shuài) primarily means 'handsome' or 'graceful', often used to describe a person's appearance or demeanor. Additionally, it can refer to a military commander or chief, conveying authority and leadership. In informal contexts, it can be used to express that something is 'cool' or 'sweet'.
When to use 帅
Be cautious with the tone; 帅 is pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone), which can change its meaning if mispronounced. It's often used in informal settings when complimenting someone's looks or style. Common collocations include 帅哥 (handsome guy) and 帅气 (handsome/cool).
帅 or something close to it
帅 (handsome) vs 英俊 (handsome, but with a more refined or elegant connotation) — use 帅 for a more casual or confident tone.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 帅 with similar sounding words; for example, some may say 'shui' instead of 'shuài'. It's also common to overuse it in formal contexts where a more reserved term would be appropriate.
Write 帅
帅
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Grammar Patterns of 帅
帅 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 8 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.
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Cultural Notes for 帅
💡Did you know?
In modern Chinese culture, calling someone '帅' often involves admiration not just for looks but also for their personality and style. It's a compliment that resonates well in social settings.
Word Family of 帅
Words Containing This Character11
帅shuàihandsome帥
帅哥shuàigēhandsome guy帥哥
帅气handsome帥氣
主帅coach主帥
元帅marshal (in the army)元帥
统帅command統帥
挂帅to be in command掛帥
大元帅generalissimo大元帥
将帅commander-in-chief, the equivalent of king in Chinese chess將帥
高富帅"Mr Perfect" (i.e. tall, rich and handsome) (Internet slang)高富帥
舍车保帅to pass the buck捨車保帥
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 帅
What does 帅哥 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 帅
Synonyms for 帅 (shuài) include 漂亮 (piàoliang) for 'pretty' or 'beautiful' and 英俊 (yīngjùn) for 'handsome' or 'elegant.' Depending on the context, you might also use 酷 (kù) to express that something or someone is 'cool.'
While 帅 (shuài) is commonly used to describe men, it can also be used in a gender-neutral way to refer to someone who is stylish or cool. In modern usage, it may be applied to women in certain contexts, especially in informal conversations.
帅 (shuài) primarily means 'handsome' or 'graceful' in Chinese. It can also refer to a commander in chief or describe someone as cool or sweet in a colloquial context. The character is often used to compliment someone's appearance or style.
You can use 帅 (shuài) in a sentence to compliment someone, such as '他很帅' (tā hěn shuài), which means 'He is very handsome.' It can also be used in informal contexts, like saying '这个设计很帅' (zhège shèjì hěn shuài), meaning 'This design is very cool.'
You can say '他很帅' (tā hěn shuài), which means 'He is very handsome.'
A common opposite might be 丑 (chǒu), which means 'ugly'.
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