Meanings of 省
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About 省
Podcast: 省
Podcast: 省
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AI Study Notes for 省
节省 (jiéshěng) vs 省略 (shěnglüè) — use 省 for general saving or economizing, while 节省 specifically emphasizes saving resources, and 省略 refers to omitting or leaving out something.
Be careful not to confuse 省 with similar-sounding words, as context can change the meaning significantly. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing budget or family matters. Common collocations include 省钱 (shěng qián, to save money) and 省略 (shěnglüè, to omit).
As an HSK Level 4 word, 省 connects with other vocabulary around saving and economy, such as 钱 (qián, money) and 节省 (jiéshěng, to economize). Focus on using it in practical sentences to reinforce its meanings in different contexts.
Learners often confuse 省 with similar terms like 省略 (to omit) and mistakenly use it interchangeably. For example, saying '我省掉了这个' (Wǒ shěng diào le zhège) instead of '我省略了这个' (Wǒ shěnglüè le zhège) can lead to confusion regarding intention.
Pronunciation of 省
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Etymology of 省
Phonosemantic compound. 目 represents the meaning and 少 represents the sound.
division
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 省
Phonosemantic compound. 目 represents the meaning and 少 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half目 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half少 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaydivision
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 省? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 省?
Decomposition of 省
Identify the Components
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How to say to save in Chinese
“to save” in Chinese is省
The character 省 (shěng) primarily refers to the concept of saving or economizing. It can also denote the act of self-examination or introspection, as well as referring to a province in China. It is commonly used in contexts related to frugality, awareness, and familial visits, especially to elders.
When to use 省
Be careful not to confuse 省 with similar-sounding words, as context can change the meaning significantly. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing budget or family matters. Common collocations include 省钱 (shěng qián, to save money) and 省略 (shěnglüè, to omit).
省 or something close to it
节省 (jiéshěng) vs 省略 (shěnglüè) — use 省 for general saving or economizing, while 节省 specifically emphasizes saving resources, and 省略 refers to omitting or leaving out something.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 省 with similar terms like 省略 (to omit) and mistakenly use it interchangeably. For example, saying '我省掉了这个' (Wǒ shěng diào le zhège) instead of '我省略了这个' (Wǒ shěnglüè le zhège) can lead to confusion regarding intention.
Write 省
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Practice writing 省 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 省
省 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 15 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.
Complete the Sentence
为了____钱，她很少在外面吃饭。
In order to save money, she rarely eats out.
Common Confusions with 省
Similar pronunciation, but different meanings.
省略 means to omit or leave out, while 省 can also refer to saving or economizing.
我们可以省略这部分内容。
省略 means to omit or leave out, while 省 can also refer to saving or economizing.
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to save"?
Example Sentences for 省 (10)
Word Family of 省
Compound Meaning
What does 省 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 省
While both 省 (shěng) and 节省 (jiéshěng) relate to saving, 省 is more general and can mean to save or omit, whereas 节省 specifically refers to economizing or conserving resources, often in a more deliberate context like saving energy or money. For example, '节省时间' (jiéshěng shíjiān) means 'to save time.'
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