(fig.) to expose and share (one's experiences and thoughts) on the Web (loanword from "share")
HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 日, rank #4595, Hard
晒
shài
(coll.) to give the cold shoulder to
HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 日, rank #4595, Hard
晒
shài
to dry in the sun; to expose to the sun
HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 日, rank #4595, Hard
shài(shai4)shai T4
1(of the sun) to shine on
2to bask in (the sunshine)
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March 24, 2026
晒(曬)shài(shai4)
晒 (shài) refers to the act of allowing sunlight to shine on something, which can be used literally for drying clothes or grains, or figuratively for sharing experiences online. In a more colloquial context, it can also mean to give someone the cold shoulder, indicating a lack of attention or interest.
Strokes10Radical日Frequency#4595DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In modern Chinese culture,晒 is often associated with social media practices where individuals share their daily lives and accomplishments, reflecting a cultural emphasis on personal branding and visibility.
Memory Tip
Imagine a bright sun (the radical 日) shining down on freshly washed clothes spread out to dry. The sound 'shài' can remind you of 'shine,' as it captures the essence of sunlight exposure.
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AI Study Notes for 晒
Quick Contrast
晒 (shài) vs 曝 (pù) — use 晒 for drying in sunlight, while 曝 typically refers to exposing something to light without the drying connotation.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 晒 with 曬, as they are variants of each other. This word is commonly used in informal contexts, especially in social media discussions about sharing personal experiences. Pay attention to the tone; a mispronunciation could change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 晒 connects with other words related to nature and sharing experiences. Focus on its use in both literal and figurative contexts to enrich your vocabulary, especially in discussions about social media.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 晒 with its variant 曬, mistakenly using 曬 where 晒 is preferred in modern usage. For example, saying '我在曬衣服' instead of '我在晒衣服' would be incorrect in contemporary contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 晒
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Knowing 晒 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.
晒 = 日 + 西. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 晒
IDS Structure⿰日西
晒Full Character
=
日Ri4
left
西Xi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 晒?
How to say (of the sun) to shine on in Chinese
“(of the sun) to shine on” in Chinese is晒shài
晒 (shài) refers to the act of allowing sunlight to shine on something, which can be used literally for drying clothes or grains, or figuratively for sharing experiences online. In a more colloquial context, it can also mean to give someone the cold shoulder, indicating a lack of attention or interest.
When to use 晒
Be cautious not to confuse 晒 with 曬, as they are variants of each other. This word is commonly used in informal contexts, especially in social media discussions about sharing personal experiences. Pay attention to the tone; a mispronunciation could change the meaning.
晒 or something close to it
晒 (shài) vs 曝 (pù) — use 晒 for drying in sunlight, while 曝 typically refers to exposing something to light without the drying connotation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 晒 with its variant 曬, mistakenly using 曬 where 晒 is preferred in modern usage. For example, saying '我在曬衣服' instead of '我在晒衣服' would be incorrect in contemporary contexts.
Write 晒
晒
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Practice writing 晒 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 晒
晒 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 6 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.
My slimming attempts tend to go in fits and starts.
9
树根剥皮后挂起来风干晒白。
shù gēn bāo pí hòu guà qǐ lái fēng gān shài bái。
The tree's roots are stripped and hung to season and bleach.
10
我皮肤很白，怎么也晒不黑。
wǒ pí fū hěn bái， ， zěn mó yě shài bù。
I have very pale skin that never tans.
11
为了健康的肤色，夏天我常常去海滩晒太阳。
Wèi le jiànkāng de fūsè, xiàtiān wǒ chángcháng qù hǎitān shài tàiyáng.
In order to get a healthy skin tone, I often sunbathe at the beach in the summer.
12
经过一个夏天的户外运动，他的皮肤晒得很黑。
Jīngguò yí ge xiàtiān de hùwài yùndòng, tā de pífū shài de hěn hēi.
After a summer of outdoor activities, his skin became very tanned.
13
她喜欢在阳台上晒衣服，觉得这样衣服会更有阳光的味道。
Tā xǐhuān zài yángtái shàng shài yīfu, juéde zhèyàng yīfu huì gèng yǒu yángguāng de wèidào.
She likes to hang clothes on the balcony to dry, thinking they will have more of a sunshine scent this way.
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Word Family of 晒
Compounds1
嗮
Words Containing This Character10
晒shài(of the sun) to shine on曬
晒太阳to put sth in the sun (e.g. to dry it)曬太陽
防晒霜suntan lotion防曬霜
晒干to dry in the sun曬乾
暴晒(of the sun) to scorch暴曬
晒黑to tan曬黑
曝晒to expose to strong sunlight曝曬
日晒雨淋weather-beaten日曬雨淋
晒斑sunburn spots (on skin)曬斑
晒图blueprint曬圖
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 晒
What does 晒太阳 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 晒
You can use 晒 with words like '太阳' (sun) and '照片' (photos) to describe actions like '晒太阳' (bask in the sun) and '晒照片' (share photos).
Generally, 晒 is more commonly used in informal contexts, especially in conversations or social media posts. In formal writing, you might choose synonyms like 曬.
Yes, in colloquial usage, it can imply giving someone the cold shoulder, indicating a negative social interaction.
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