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拾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
拾
shè
to ascend in light steps
HSK 6, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8045, Hard
拾
shè
to pick up
HSK 6, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8045, Hard
拾
shè
to collate or arrange
HSK 6, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8045, Hard
拾
shè
ten (banker's anti-fraud numeral)
HSK 6, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8045, Hard
拾
shè
to collect, to pick up, to tidy up; ten (bankers' anti-fraud numeral)
HSK 6, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8045, Hard
拾
shí
to ascend in light steps
HSK 6, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8045, Hard
拾
shí
to pick up
HSK 6, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8045, Hard
拾
shí
to collate or arrange
HSK 6, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8045, Hard
拾
shí
ten (banker's anti-fraud numeral)
HSK 6, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8045, Hard
拾
shí
to collect, to pick up, to tidy up; ten (bankers' anti-fraud numeral)
HSK 6, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #8045, Hard
shè(she4)she
primary
T4
1to ascend in light steps
2to pick up
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March 24, 2026
拾shè(she4)
The character 拾 (shè) primarily means 'to pick up' or 'to collect.' It is commonly used in contexts where one gathers items, such as picking up trash or collecting belongings. Additionally, it can refer to ascending lightly or arranging items neatly.
Strokes9Radical扌Frequency#8045DifficultyHard
Cultural note
拾 is often associated with the practice of picking up litter, which reflects the growing environmental awareness in China. Community clean-up events are common, emphasizing the value of cleanliness and responsibility towards public spaces.
Memory tip
Imagine a person picking up ten shiny coins (the character '十' for ten is part of '拾'). Visualize them stepping lightly as they collect each coin, reinforcing both the meaning of 'to pick up' and the pronunciation 'shè' with the sound of coins clinking.
Meanings of 拾
shè(she4)
primary
1to ascend in light steps
2to pick up
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 拾 means.
About 拾
拾Simplified
9Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#8045Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3BCT✓CEFRB2
Podcast: 拾
Podcast: 拾
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AI study notes for 拾
Quick Contrast
捡 (jiǎn) vs 拾 (shè): Use 捡 when emphasizing the act of picking up something that is dropped or found, while 拾 often implies a more deliberate or careful collection.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 拾 with similar-sounding characters. In informal contexts, it may be used loosely for gathering items, but in formal settings, it should be used with precision regarding what is being collected. Pay attention to the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 拾 connects to themes of collection and arrangement found in other advanced vocabulary. Students should focus on its usage in literature and formal writing where precise meanings are crucial. Understanding its relation to related characters will deepen vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 拾 with the character 捡, thinking they are interchangeable, when they have slightly different nuances. For example, saying '我拾了东西' (wǒ shè le dōngxi) instead of '我捡了东西' (wǒ jiǎn le dōngxi) can imply a more formal or careful action than intended.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 拾
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The character 拾 (shè) primarily means 'to pick up' or 'to collect.' It is commonly used in contexts where one gathers items, such as picking up trash or collecting belongings. Additionally, it can refer to ascending lightly or arranging items neatly.
When to use 拾
Learners often confuse 拾 with similar-sounding characters. In informal contexts, it may be used loosely for gathering items, but in formal settings, it should be used with precision regarding what is being collected. Pay attention to the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.
拾 or something close to it
捡 (jiǎn) vs 拾 (shè): Use 捡 when emphasizing the act of picking up something that is dropped or found, while 拾 often implies a more deliberate or careful collection.
What learners get wrong
Learners may confuse 拾 with the character 捡, thinking they are interchangeable, when they have slightly different nuances. For example, saying '我拾了东西' (wǒ shè le dōngxi) instead of '我捡了东西' (wǒ jiǎn le dōngxi) can imply a more formal or careful action than intended.
Write 拾
拾
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Practice writing 拾 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 拾
拾 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 5 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
她的床收____得很整洁，衣服也收起来了。
Her bed was crisply made, her clothes put away.
Common confusions with 拾
拾vs十
shí
Similar shape and pronunciation, but '十' has a distinct meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to ascend in light steps”?
or
Usage Notes for 拾
Confusion with '十'Common Error
Learners often confuse '拾' (to pick up) with '十' (ten) due to similar pronunciation.
1
我在路上拾到了一把伞。
I picked up an umbrella on the road.
Exercise 1 of 1
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我在路上____到了一把伞。
I picked up an umbrella on the road.
Example sentences for 拾 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
她的床收拾得很整洁，衣服也收起来了。
tā de chuáng shōushi de hěn zhěngjié， yīfu yě shōu qǐlái le。
Her bed was crisply made, her clothes put away.
2
我们目睹了一家人正在收拾家当准备离开的凄惨景象。
wǒmen mùdǔ le yījiārén zhèngzài shōushi jiā dāng zhǔnbèi líkāi de qī cǎn jǐngxiàng。
We encountered the pathetic sight of a family packing up its home.
Eric's sister had nobly volunteered to help with the gardening.
6
我收拾好行李然后和查利道别。
wǒ shōushi hǎo xíngli ránhòu hé chá lì dàobié。
I packed and said goodbye to Charlie.
7
他收拾好扔得到处都是的玩具。
tā shōushi hǎo rēng dédào chǔ dōushì de wánjù。
He picked up the scattered toys.
8
他们收拾好东西，办理了退房手续。
tāmen shōushi hǎo dōngxi， bànlǐ le tuì fáng shǒuxù。
They packed and checked out of the hotel.
9
她已收拾好个人物品。
tā yǐ shōushi hǎo gèrén wùpǐn。
She had tidied away her possessions.
10
你收拾好行李了吗？
nǐ shōushi hǎo xíngli le ma？
Have you finished your packing?
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Cultural Notes for 拾
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, picking up money from the ground is often considered a lucky act. It's believed that it brings good fortune and is a sign of prosperity.
Word Family of 拾
Words containing this character20
收拾shōushito tidy up
拾shèto pick up
不可收拾bùkěshōushiirremediable
一发不可收拾yìfābùkěshōushito get out of hand一發不可收拾
拾荒shíhuāngto glean
拾金不昧shíjīnbúmèito pick up money and not hide it (idiom); to return property to its owner
拾掇shíduoto clear up
拾遗shíyíto pocket a lost article拾遺
拾取shíqǔto pick up
收拾残局shōushicánjúto clear up the mess收拾殘局
拾级而上shèjí’érshàngto walk slowly up a flight of steps (idiom)拾級而上
俯拾皆是fǔshíjiēshìfig. extremely common
拾遗补缺shíyíbǔquēto remedy omissions and correct errors (idiom)拾遺補缺
路不拾遗lùbùshíyífig. honesty prevails throughout society路不拾遺
俯拾即是fǔshíjíshìfig. extremely common
拾物shíwùpicked up items (i.e. lost property)
拾人牙慧shírényáhuìto parrot
拾零shílíngto pick up bits
拾音器shíyīnqìpickup (electro-acoustic transducer)
道不拾遗dàobùshíyífig. honesty prevails throughout society道不拾遺
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 拾
What does 收拾 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 拾
Yes, 拾 is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially when talking about picking up objects or collecting items. It’s often used in contexts related to cleaning up or gathering things together.
Some synonyms for 拾 include 捡 (jiǎn), which also means 'to pick up', and 收 (shōu), meaning 'to collect' or 'to gather'. Each has slightly different usages depending on the context.
拾 (shè, shí) can mean 'to pick up' or 'to collect' in Chinese. It can also refer to ascending in light steps. Additionally, it serves as a banker's numeral for ten, often used in financial contexts.
You can use 拾 in a sentence like '我拾起了地上的书' (Wǒ shí qǐle dì shàng de shū), which means 'I picked up the book on the ground.' This shows its meaning of picking something up or collecting it.
Common phrases include 拾起 (shè qǐ, to pick up) and 拾荒 (shè huāng, to scavenge).
Yes, 拾 is used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more prevalent in written language.
While both mean 'to pick up,' 拾 can imply a more careful or thoughtful process, whereas 捡 (jiǎn) is more casual.
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