HSK 7, n, 13 strokes, radical 艹, rank #13906, Very Hard
suàn(suan4) T4
1garlic
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March 24, 2026
蒜suàn(suan4)
蒜 (suàn) refers to garlic, a common bulb used in cooking for its strong flavor and aroma. It is widely used in various cuisines, particularly in Asian dishes, and is known for its health benefits. Beyond its culinary uses, garlic is also associated with folklore and traditional medicine in many cultures.
Strokes13Radical艹Frequency#13906DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, garlic is not only a staple in cooking but is also believed to ward off evil spirits and bad luck, making it a common ingredient in festive dishes. Its presence in traditional medicine highlights its value beyond mere flavor.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'swan' (sounds like 'suàn') gliding over a field of garlic. The swan represents the elegance of cooking with garlic, while the field symbolizes its abundance in the kitchen. Visualize the swan's beak pecking at the garlic, emphasizing its importance in flavor.
Meanings of 蒜
suàn(suan4)
1garlic
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 蒜 means.
About 蒜
蒜Simplified
13Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
头Measure Word
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 蒜
Podcast: 蒜
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AI Study Notes for 蒜
Quick Contrast
大葱 (dàcōng, scallion) - use 蒜 (garlic) for its stronger flavor and aroma compared to the milder 大葱.
Usage Notes
Be cautious about the tone when pronouncing 'suàn', as mispronunciation can lead to confusion with other words. It is often used in cooking contexts, so collocations like '蒜头' (suàn tóu - garlic bulb) or '蒜蓉' (suàn róng - minced garlic) are common. In informal settings, you might simply refer to it as '蒜'.
HSK Study Tips
Although 蒜 is not explicitly listed in the HSK vocabulary, it is useful for HSK 2 and 3 students learning food-related terms. Focus on using it in sentences about cooking or recipes to enhance retention. Pair it with other food words to build a strong culinary vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蒜 with related terms like 洋葱 (yángcōng - onion). For example, saying '我喜欢洋葱' when they mean 'I like garlic' can lead to misunderstandings. Always double-check to ensure you're using the correct term for the ingredient you mean.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蒜
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Etymology of 蒜
Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
蒜 = 艹 + 祘. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 蒜
IDS Structure⿱艹祘
蒜Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
祘suan4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 蒜?
How to say garlic in Chinese
“garlic” in Chinese is蒜suàn
蒜 (suàn) refers to garlic, a common bulb used in cooking for its strong flavor and aroma. It is widely used in various cuisines, particularly in Asian dishes, and is known for its health benefits. Beyond its culinary uses, garlic is also associated with folklore and traditional medicine in many cultures.
When to use 蒜
Be cautious about the tone when pronouncing 'suàn', as mispronunciation can lead to confusion with other words. It is often used in cooking contexts, so collocations like '蒜头' (suàn tóu - garlic bulb) or '蒜蓉' (suàn róng - minced garlic) are common. In informal settings, you might simply refer to it as '蒜'.
蒜 or something close to it
大葱 (dàcōng, scallion) - use 蒜 (garlic) for its stronger flavor and aroma compared to the milder 大葱.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 蒜 with related terms like 洋葱 (yángcōng - onion). For example, saying '我喜欢洋葱' when they mean 'I like garlic' can lead to misunderstandings. Always double-check to ensure you're using the correct term for the ingredient you mean.
Write 蒜
蒜
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Practice writing 蒜 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 蒜
蒜 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
