HSK 7, vg, 10 strokes, radical 耳, rank #19771, Very Hard
耸
sǒng
to raise up
HSK 7, vg, 10 strokes, radical 耳, rank #19771, Very Hard
耸
sǒng
to shrug
HSK 7, vg, 10 strokes, radical 耳, rank #19771, Very Hard
耸
sǒng
high
HSK 7, vg, 10 strokes, radical 耳, rank #19771, Very Hard
耸
sǒng
lofty
HSK 7, vg, 10 strokes, radical 耳, rank #19771, Very Hard
耸
sǒng
towering
HSK 7, vg, 10 strokes, radical 耳, rank #19771, Very Hard
耸
sǒng
to excite, to urge; to raise; to shrug; lofty, towering
HSK 7, vg, 10 strokes, radical 耳, rank #19771, Very Hard
sǒng(song3) T3
1to excite
2to raise up
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
耸(聳)sǒng(song3)
The character 耸 (sǒng) primarily means 'to raise up' or 'to tower,' often used to describe something that is high or lofty, such as mountains or buildings. It can also convey a sense of excitement or urging, typically in contexts where someone's emotions are elevated or stimulated. Its nuanced meanings make it versatile in both descriptive and emotional contexts.
Strokes10Radical耳Frequency#19771DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, towering mountains are often seen as symbols of strength and resilience, reflecting the reverence for nature's grandeur. The concept of elevation also ties into traditional beliefs about aspirations and achievements, making 耸 significant in motivational contexts.
Memory Tip
Imagine a tall mountain (the shape of 耸 resembles a peak) that reaches high into the sky, exciting climbers who aspire to reach its summit. The '耳' (ear) radical suggests listening to the excitement of the climbers as they share stories of their ascent, reinforcing the idea of elevation and thrill.
Meanings of 耸
sǒng(song3)
1to excite
2to raise up
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 耸
耸Simplified
聳Traditional
10Strokes
耳Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#19771Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 耸
Podcast: 耸
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 耸
Quick Contrast
耸 (sǒng) vs 高 (gāo) — use 耸 for a sense of raising up or towering, while 高 simply means high in a static sense.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 耸 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings, such as 笋 (sǔn, bamboo shoot). It is typically used in more formal contexts when describing physical height or emotional states, so be mindful of the register. Watch out for tone errors; the third tone (sǒng) is crucial for correct pronunciation.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 耸 connects to other advanced vocabulary related to emotions and physical descriptions. Students should focus on contextual usage and synonyms, such as 提高 (tígāo, to raise), to deepen their understanding and expression of nuanced ideas.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 耸 with 送 (sòng, to deliver), leading to incorrect phrases like '耸礼物' (sǒng lǐwù) instead of '送礼物' (sòng lǐwù, to deliver gifts). Pay attention to context to ensure proper use.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 耸
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 耸 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 耳 represents the meaning and 从 represents the sound. Simplified form of 聳.
1The meaning half耳 carries the sense.
2The sound half从 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayear
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 耸? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 耸?
Decomposition of 耸
IDS Structure⿱从耳
耸Full Character
=
从Cong2
top
耳er3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 耸?
How to say to excite in Chinese
“to excite” in Chinese is耸sǒng
The character 耸 (sǒng) primarily means 'to raise up' or 'to tower,' often used to describe something that is high or lofty, such as mountains or buildings. It can also convey a sense of excitement or urging, typically in contexts where someone's emotions are elevated or stimulated. Its nuanced meanings make it versatile in both descriptive and emotional contexts.
When to use 耸
Common mistakes include confusing 耸 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings, such as 笋 (sǔn, bamboo shoot). It is typically used in more formal contexts when describing physical height or emotional states, so be mindful of the register. Watch out for tone errors; the third tone (sǒng) is crucial for correct pronunciation.
耸 or something close to it
耸 (sǒng) vs 高 (gāo) — use 耸 for a sense of raising up or towering, while 高 simply means high in a static sense.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 耸 with 送 (sòng, to deliver), leading to incorrect phrases like '耸礼物' (sǒng lǐwù) instead of '送礼物' (sòng lǐwù, to deliver gifts). Pay attention to context to ensure proper use.
Write 耸
耸
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 耸 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 耸
耸 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 7 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
我问道：“要不我等会儿吧？”梅拉妮____耸肩说：“随你便。”
"Do you mind if I wait?" I asked. Melanie shrugged: "Please yourself."
