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)
primary
T4
1to ascend in light steps
2to pick up
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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
Complete the Sentence
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
Spot the Difference
Which character 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
Fill in the Blank
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 shōu shí dé hěn zhěng jié， ， yī fú yě shōu qǐ lái。
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。
wǒ mén mù dǔ le yī jiā rén zhèng zài shōu shí jiā dāng zhǔn bèi lí kāi de qī cǎn jǐng xiàng。
We encountered the pathetic sight of a family packing up its home.
3
他们的房子有很多地方需要收拾.
tā mén de fáng zǐ yǒu hěn duō dì fāng xū yào shōu shí.
There was a lot of work to do on their house.
4
安妮把床铺都整理好，然后把幼儿室收拾停当。
ān nī bǎ chuáng pū dū zhěng lǐ hǎo， ， rán hòu bǎ yòu ér shì shōu shí tíng。
Anne made the beds and tidied up the nursery.
5
埃里克的姐姐真好，自告奋勇帮助收拾花园。
āi lǐ kè de jiě jiě zhēn hǎo， ， zì gào fèn yǒng bāng zhù shōu shí huā。
Eric's sister had nobly volunteered to help with the gardening.
tā mén shōu shí hǎo dōng xī， ， bàn lǐ le tuì fáng shǒu。
They packed and checked out of the hotel.
9
她已收拾好个人物品。
tā yǐ shōu shí hǎo gè rén wù pǐn。
She had tidied away her possessions.
10
你收拾好行李了吗？
nǐ shōu shí hǎo háng lǐ le ma？
Have you finished your packing?
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.
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 拾
Words Containing This Character20
收拾shōushito tidy up
拾shèto pick up
不可收拾irremediable
一发不可收拾to get out of hand一發不可收拾
拾荒to glean
拾金不昧to pick up money and not hide it (idiom); to return property to its owner
拾掇to clear up
拾遗to pocket a lost article拾遺
拾取to pick up
收拾残局to clear up the mess收拾殘局
拾级而上to walk slowly up a flight of steps (idiom)拾級而上
俯拾皆是fig. extremely common
拾遗补缺to remedy omissions and correct errors (idiom)拾遺補缺
路不拾遗fig. honesty prevails throughout society路不拾遺
俯拾即是fig. extremely common
拾物picked up items (i.e. lost property)
拾人牙慧to parrot
拾零to pick up bits
拾音器pickup (electro-acoustic transducer)
道不拾遗fig. honesty prevails throughout society道不拾遺
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
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.
