HSK 4, vn, 7 strokes, radical 讠, rank #7233, Medium
诉
sù
to sue
HSK 4, vn, 7 strokes, radical 讠, rank #7233, Medium
诉
sù
to tell
HSK 4, vn, 7 strokes, radical 讠, rank #7233, Medium
诉
sù
to accuse, to sue; to inform; to narrate
HSK 4, vn, 7 strokes, radical 讠, rank #7233, Medium
sù(su4)su T4
1to complain
2to sue
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March 24, 2026
诉(愬)sù(su4)
The character 诉 (sù) primarily means 'to complain' or 'to sue' in a legal context. It can also denote the act of telling or narrating something, making it versatile in both formal and informal situations.
Strokes7Radical讠Frequency#7233DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of formally suing someone is often viewed with hesitation, as it may indicate a breakdown in social harmony. The act of 诉 can reflect deep personal grievance or a pursuit of justice.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person in a courtroom, passionately telling their story to the judge. The 's' sound in 'sue' connects to the character 诉, while the radical 言 (yán), meaning 'speech,' emphasizes its connection to speaking and narrating.
Meanings of 诉
sù(su4)
1to complain
2to sue
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 诉 means.
About 诉
诉Simplified
愬Traditional
7Strokes
讠Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#7233Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4
Podcast: 诉
Podcast: 诉
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AI Study Notes for 诉
Quick Contrast
控诉 (kòngsù) vs 诉说 (shùshuō) — choose 诉 for legal contexts or formal complaints, while 控诉 emphasizes a strong accusation or condemnation, and 诉说 focuses on narrating or recounting a story.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 诉 with other similar-sounding characters that have different tones or meanings, such as 速 (sù, fast). Its usage is generally formal in legal contexts but can be informal when discussing complaints in everyday life.
HSK Study Tips
While 诉 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with other legal or narrative terms students might encounter. Focus on its use in formal settings and familiarize yourself with related words to enhance comprehension.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use the wrong tone, saying 'sù' instead of the correct 'sù,' which can lead to confusion with unrelated words. For example, saying '诉' with a rising tone instead of the falling tone can alter its meaning completely.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 诉
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How Well Do You Know 诉?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 诉 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.
The character 诉 (sù) primarily means 'to complain' or 'to sue' in a legal context. It can also denote the act of telling or narrating something, making it versatile in both formal and informal situations.
When to use 诉
Common mistakes include confusing 诉 with other similar-sounding characters that have different tones or meanings, such as 速 (sù, fast). Its usage is generally formal in legal contexts but can be informal when discussing complaints in everyday life.
诉 or something close to it
控诉 (kòngsù) vs 诉说 (shùshuō) — choose 诉 for legal contexts or formal complaints, while 控诉 emphasizes a strong accusation or condemnation, and 诉说 focuses on narrating or recounting a story.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use the wrong tone, saying 'sù' instead of the correct 'sù,' which can lead to confusion with unrelated words. For example, saying '诉' with a rising tone instead of the falling tone can alter its meaning completely.
Write 诉
诉
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Practice writing 诉 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 诉
诉 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. 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.
