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朔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
朔shuòbeginning; the first day of the lunar monthj, 10 strokes, radical 月, rank #14703, Very Hard
朔shuòfirst day of lunar monthunknown, 10 strokes, radical 月, rank #14703, Very Hard
朔shuònorthunknown, 10 strokes, radical 月, rank #14703, Very Hard
shuò(shuo4) T4
  1. 1beginning; the first day of the lunar month
  2. 2first day of lunar month
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March 24, 2026

朔shuò(shuo4)

The character 朔 (shuò) refers to the beginning of something, particularly the first day of the lunar month in the Chinese calendar. It is commonly used in contexts related to timekeeping and lunar cycles, symbolizing new beginnings and the start of a new phase.

Strokes10Radical月Frequency#14703DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the lunar calendar plays a significant role in festivals and traditional activities, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, which aligns with the lunar phases. The term 朔 is essential for understanding these cultural practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine the moon (月) rising in the north (北) on the first day of the month (朔). The character 朔 visually combines the idea of the moon and the concept of beginnings, allowing you to remember it as 'the start of the lunar month.'

Meanings of 朔

shuò(shuo4)
1beginning; the first day of the lunar month
2first day of lunar month
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 朔

朔Simplified
10Strokes
月Radical
简称abbreviation (abbr.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 朔

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Podcast: 朔

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AI Study Notes for 朔

Quick Contrast

新 (xīn, new) — use 朔 when specifically referring to the first day of the lunar month, while 新 is broader, applying to anything that is new.

Usage Notes

When using 朔, avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words like '所' (suǒ) which means 'place.' This term is more formal and is typically found in literary or historical texts. Common collocations include '朔月' (first month) and '朔望' (new moon).

HSK Study Tips

Although 朔 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it can be connected to HSK Level 3 terms related to time and lunar phases. Students should focus on understanding its contextual usage in relation to the lunar calendar.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 朔 with 朴 (pǔ), which means 'simple' or 'plain.' A wrong example would be saying '我喜欢朴月' instead of '我喜欢朔月' to refer to the first day of the month.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 朔

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Etymology of 朔

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 月 represents the meaning and 屰 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

moon

Semantic (meaning)月
+
Phonetic (sound)月
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

朔 = 月 + 月. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 朔

IDS Structure⿰屰月
朔Full Character
=
屰ni4
left
月yue4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 朔?

How to say beginning; the first day of the lunar month in Chinese

“beginning; the first day of the lunar month” in Chinese is朔shuò

The character 朔 (shuò) refers to the beginning of something, particularly the first day of the lunar month in the Chinese calendar. It is commonly used in contexts related to timekeeping and lunar cycles, symbolizing new beginnings and the start of a new phase.

When to use 朔

When using 朔, avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words like '所' (suǒ) which means 'place.' This term is more formal and is typically found in literary or historical texts. Common collocations include '朔月' (first month) and '朔望' (new moon).

朔 or something close to it

新 (xīn, new) — use 朔 when specifically referring to the first day of the lunar month, while 新 is broader, applying to anything that is new.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 朔 with 朴 (pǔ), which means 'simple' or 'plain.' A wrong example would be saying '我喜欢朴月' instead of '我喜欢朔月' to refer to the first day of the month.

Write 朔

朔

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

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Grammar Patterns of 朔

朔 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

阵____风和雪片随着驾驶员一涌而进.

A gust of wind , and snow flurries, accompanied the pilots.

Example Sentences for 朔 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
阵朔风和雪片随着驾驶员一涌而进.

zhèn shuò fēng hé xuě piàn suí zháo jià shǐ yuán yī yǒng ér jìn.

A gust of wind , and snow flurries, accompanied the pilots.

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Word Family of 朔

Words Containing This Character14
朔shuòbeginning
扑朔迷离confusing撲朔迷離
王朔Wang Shuo (1958-), Chinese writer, director and actor
阳朔Yangshuo county in Guilin 桂林[Guì​lín], Guangxi陽朔
朔州Shuozhou prefecture level city in Shanxi 山西
朔望the new moon
朔州市Shuozhou prefecture level city in Shanxi 山西
朔风north wind朔風
正朔first day of the first lunar month
朔日first day of the lunar month
阳朔县Yangshuo county in Guilin 桂林[Guì​lín], Guangxi陽朔縣
朔城区Shuocheng district of Shuozhou city 朔州市[Shuò​zhōu​shì], Shanxi朔城區
朔风凛冽The north wind is icy cold.朔風凜冽
朔月new moon
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 朔

What does 扑朔迷离 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 朔

In modern terms, 朔 primarily refers to the first day of the lunar month, which is relevant for understanding traditional Chinese festivals.

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