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宿舍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
宿舍sùshèdormitoryHSK 5, n, 19 strokes, rank #5307, Hard
宿舍sùshèdorm roomHSK 5, n, 19 strokes, rank #5307, Hard
宿舍sùshèliving quartersHSK 5, n, 19 strokes, rank #5307, Hard
宿舍sùshèhostelHSK 5, n, 19 strokes, rank #5307, Hard
sùshè(su4she4)su she T4
  1. 1dormitory
  2. 2dorm room
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March 24, 2026

宿舍sùshè(su4she4)

宿舍 (sù shè) refers to a dormitory or living quarters where multiple people, often students, reside. It is commonly used in the context of universities and schools, providing accommodation for students on campus. The term conveys a sense of shared space and communal living.

Strokes19Frequency#5307DifficultyHard
Cultural note

宿舍 is integral to student life in China, where many students live on campus. This reflects a communal aspect of Chinese education, emphasizing collaboration and shared experiences among students.

Memory tip

Imagine a '宿' (sù) with a cozy '舍' (shè) where students sleep. Think of '宿' as a bed and '舍' as a shelter – together they form a warm dormitory where students share experiences.

Meanings of 宿舍

sùshè(su4she4)
1dormitory
2dorm room
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 宿舍

宿舍Simplified
19Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5307Frequency Rank
间Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 宿舍

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Podcast: 宿舍

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AI study notes for 宿舍

Quick Contrast

宿舍 (dormitory) vs 旅馆 (hotel) — use 宿舍 for shared student living rather than private accommodations.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 宿舍 with other housing-related terms like 住房 (zhù fáng) which refers more generally to housing. 宿舍 is typically used in informal settings, so it's best suited for conversations about school life and student living. Be mindful of the tone, as using the wrong tone can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 5 word, 宿舍 connects with other vocabulary related to education and daily life. Students should focus on its usage in various contexts, particularly in academic settings, to understand how it fits into conversations about student life.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes mistakenly use 宿舍 when referring to individual housing, such as saying '我住在宿舍里' ('I live in the dormitory') when they actually mean 'I live in an apartment.' The correct term for an apartment would be 公寓 (gōng yù).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 宿舍

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Component characters

宿sùnight
HSK 211 strokes宀
View full entry
舍shěto give up
8 strokes舌
View full entry

How to say dormitory in Chinese

“dormitory” in Chinese is宿舍sùshè

宿舍 (sù shè) refers to a dormitory or living quarters where multiple people, often students, reside. It is commonly used in the context of universities and schools, providing accommodation for students on campus. The term conveys a sense of shared space and communal living.

When to use 宿舍

Learners often confuse 宿舍 with other housing-related terms like 住房 (zhù fáng) which refers more generally to housing. 宿舍 is typically used in informal settings, so it's best suited for conversations about school life and student living. Be mindful of the tone, as using the wrong tone can change the meaning.

宿舍 or something close to it

宿舍 (dormitory) vs 旅馆 (hotel) — use 宿舍 for shared student living rather than private accommodations.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes mistakenly use 宿舍 when referring to individual housing, such as saying '我住在宿舍里' ('I live in the dormitory') when they actually mean 'I live in an apartment.' The correct term for an apartment would be 公寓 (gōng yù).

Write 宿舍

宿
舍

Practice writing 宿舍 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 宿舍

宿舍 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

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

有些人住在建筑质量很差的____里,甚至帐篷里。

Some are living in poorly built dormitories, even in tents.

Example sentences for 宿舍 (12)

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1
有些人住在建筑质量很差的宿舍里,甚至帐篷里。

yǒuxiē rén zhùzài jiànzhù zhìliàng hěn chà de sùshè lǐ, shènzhì zhàngpeng lǐ。

Some are living in poorly built dormitories, even in tents.
2
在我们走访的学生宿舍里,大多明令禁止胡作非为。

zài wǒmen zǒu fǎng de xuéshēng sùshè lǐ, dàduō míng lìng jìnzhǐ hú zuō fēi wèi。

In most of the residence halls we visited, rules prohibit disorderly conduct.
3
他宿舍的墙上贴满性感的裸女画报.

tā sùshè de qiáng shàng tiē mǎn xìnggǎn de luǒ nǚ huà bào.

The walls of his dormitory room were covered with sexy pin - ups.
4
学生们把自己关在了宿舍楼里。

xuéshēng men bǎ zìjǐ guān zài le sùshè lóu lǐ。

The students have barricaded themselves into their dormitory building.
5
男孩子们被安排在宿舍里住下了.

nán háizi men bèi ānpái zài sùshè lǐ zhù xià le.

The boys were settled in their dormitory.
6
瑞秋还是很兴奋即将搬入加州马里布的裴普丹大学宿舍.

ruì Qiū háishi hěn xīngfèn jíjiāng bān rù jiā zhōu mǎ lǐ bù de péi pǔ dān dàxué sùshè.

Rachel was excited to be moving into the dorms at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.
7
同时在宿舍里边,她开始用颜料染着袜子和上衣.

tóngshí zài sùshè lǐbian, tā kāishǐ yòng yán liào rǎn zhe wàzi hé shàngyī.

And she started dyeing her stockings and blouses there too.
8
一部分钱被拨出来用作修建科学寄宿宿舍之用.

yībùfen qián bèi bō chūlái yòng zuō xiūjiàn kēxué jì sù sùshè zhī yòng.

A part of the money was set off for the building of a science boardinghouse.
9
由于大学宿舍的空间有限,许多学生选择在外租房。

Yóuyú dàxué sùshè de kōngjiān yǒuxiàn, xǔduō xuéshēng xuǎnzé zài wài zū fáng.

Due to the limited space in the university dormitory, many students choose to rent apartments outside.
10
新生在开学前会收到宿舍分配通知,了解自己的住宿安排。

Xīnshēng zài kāixué qián huì shōudào sùshè fēnpèi tōngzhī, liǎojiě zìjǐ de zhùsù ānpái.

New students will receive dormitory assignment notifications before the start of the semester to understand their accommodation arrangements.
11
为了提高生活质量,学校决定翻新老旧的学生宿舍。

Wèile tígāo shēnghuó zhìliàng, xuéxiào juédìng fānxīn lǎojiù de xuéshēng sùshè.

To improve living quality, the school decided to renovate the old student dormitories.
12
宿舍管理员每天都会检查楼层的安全和卫生情况。

Sùshè guǎnlǐyuán měitiān dūhuì jiǎnchá lóucéng de ānquán hé wèishēng qíngkuàng.

The dormitory manager checks the safety and hygiene conditions of each floor every day.

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Cultural Notes for 宿舍

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, dormitories may often be referred to as 'residence halls' and may host fewer residents per room compared to traditional Chinese 宿舍, which often accommodates more students in shared spaces.

Frequently asked questions about 宿舍

宿舍 specifically refers to dormitories or shared living spaces for students, while 住房 is a broader term for any form of housing.

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