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赎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
赎shúransom; to buy; to redeemHSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 贝, rank #6173, Very Hard
赎shúto ransomHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 贝, rank #6173, Very Hard
shú(shu2)shu T2
  1. 1ransom; to buy; to redeem
  2. 2to ransom
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March 24, 2026

赎(贖)shú(shu2)

The character 赎 (shú) primarily means to redeem or ransom something. It is commonly used in contexts related to buying back property or releasing a person from captivity by paying a sum of money. The nuance often implies a sense of recovery or restoration, whether it's a person, an object, or a situation.

Strokes12Radical贝Frequency#6173DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of redemption is often tied to moral and ethical implications, particularly in contexts like forgiveness and atonement, reflecting a society that values relationships and social harmony.

Memory tip

Imagine a person holding a 'redemption' sign while standing in front of a locked gate, where their loved one is held captive. The image of the gate symbolizes something that can be 'redeemed' or 'ransom' through the payment of money, helping you remember both the meaning and the pronunciation 'shú'.

Meanings of 赎

shú(shu2)
1ransom; to buy; to redeem
2to ransom
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 赎 means.

About 赎

赎Simplified
贖Traditional
12Strokes
贝Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 赎

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AI Study Notes for 赎

Quick Contrast

赎 (shú) vs 买回 (mǎihuí) — use 赎 when emphasizing the act of redemption or release from captivity, whereas 买回 focuses specifically on the act of buying something back without the implication of restoring or freeing.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 赎 (shú) with 署 (shǔ), which means 'to sign'. In formal contexts, 赎 is often used in legal or financial language, while in informal speech it might refer to personal situations like redeeming a promise. Be cautious of tone; mispronouncing the second tone can lead to confusion.

HSK Study Tips

Although not part of the HSK vocabulary list, understanding 赎 can enhance comprehension of related terms like 赎回 (shúhuí, to redeem) and 赎罪 (shúzuì, to atone). Focus on how it interacts with other verbs that involve transactions or exchanges.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 赎 (shú) with 赐 (cì), which means 'to bestow'. For example, saying '我赐钱买回' (Wǒ cì qián mǎihuí) instead of '我赎钱买回' (Wǒ shú qián mǎihuí) can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 赎

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Etymology of 赎

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

To sell 卖 a soul for money 贝; 卖 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 赎?

Decomposition of 赎

IDS Structure⿰贝卖
赎Full character
=
贝Bei4
left
卖mai4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 赎?

How to say ransom; to buy; to redeem in Chinese

“ransom; to buy; to redeem” in Chinese is赎shú

The character 赎 (shú) primarily means to redeem or ransom something. It is commonly used in contexts related to buying back property or releasing a person from captivity by paying a sum of money. The nuance often implies a sense of recovery or restoration, whether it's a person, an object, or a situation.

When to use 赎

Common mistakes include confusing 赎 (shú) with 署 (shǔ), which means 'to sign'. In formal contexts, 赎 is often used in legal or financial language, while in informal speech it might refer to personal situations like redeeming a promise. Be cautious of tone; mispronouncing the second tone can lead to confusion.

赎 or something close to it

赎 (shú) vs 买回 (mǎihuí) — use 赎 when emphasizing the act of redemption or release from captivity, whereas 买回 focuses specifically on the act of buying something back without the implication of restoring or freeing.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 赎 (shú) with 赐 (cì), which means 'to bestow'. For example, saying '我赐钱买回' (Wǒ cì qián mǎihuí) instead of '我赎钱买回' (Wǒ shú qián mǎihuí) can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 赎

赎

Practice writing 赎 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 赎

赎 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 2 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.

业主如果未能按时交房贷,就会面临丧失抵押品____回权的危险。

If homeowners can't keep up the payments, they face foreclosure.

Example Sentences for 赎 (3)

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1
业主如果未能按时交房贷,就会面临丧失抵押品赎回权的危险。

yè zhǔ rú guǒ wèi néng àn shí jiāo fáng dài, , jiù huì miàn lín sāng shī dǐ yā pǐn shú huí quán de wēi。

If homeowners can't keep up the payments, they face foreclosure.
2
你愿意以苦刑赎你的罪吗, 孩子?

nǐ yuàn yì yǐ kǔ xíng shú nǐ de zuì ma, , hái?

Are you willing to do penance for your sins, my son?
3
爱情的救赎力量

ài qíng de jiù shú lì liáng

the redemptive power of love

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Word Family of 赎

Words containing this character7
赎回to redeem贖回
赎shúto redeem贖
赎金ransom贖金
赎罪redemption贖罪
将功赎罪to atone for one's crimes by meritorious acts將功贖罪
赎款ransom贖款
掳人勒赎kidnapping for ransom擄人勒贖
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 赎

What does 赎回 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 赎

Common phrases include 赎回 (shúhuí, to redeem) and 赎罪 (shúzuì, to atone).

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