unknown, 17 strokes, radical 禾, rank #35466, Very Hard
suì(Sui4) T4
1ear of grain; fringe, tassel; Guangzhou
2abbr. for Guangzhou 廣州|广州[Guang3 zhou1]
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March 24, 2026
穗suì(Sui4)
The character 穗 (suì) primarily refers to an ear of grain, particularly the part of cereal plants that contains the seeds. It can also denote a fringe or tassel, often associated with decorative elements in textiles or traditional costumes. In addition, it is an abbreviation for Guangzhou, a major city in southern China.
Strokes17Radical禾Frequency#35466DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, grain is a staple food, and the character 穗 symbolizes abundance and prosperity, often featured in agricultural festivals. The importance of grain is reflected in sayings and traditions that celebrate harvest time.
Memory Tip
Imagine a tall stalk of grain with a fluffy tuft at the top, resembling a tassel. The character 穗 combines the radical for 'grain' (禾) with the idea of a 'fluffy top' (the shape of 穗), helping you remember both its pronunciation (suì) and meaning.
Meanings of 穗
suì(Sui4)
1ear of grain; fringe, tassel; Guangzhou
2abbr. for Guangzhou 廣州|广州[Guang3 zhou1]
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 穗
穗Simplified
17Strokes
禾Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 穗
Podcast: 穗
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AI Study Notes for 穗
Usage Notes
When using 穗, learners often confuse it with similar-sounding characters like 睡 (shuì, sleep) or 随 (suí, follow). It is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with its use in agricultural discussions where precision is key. Common collocations include '穗子' (suìzi, ear of grain) and '穗状' (suìzhuàng, tassel-like).
HSK Study Tips
Though 穗 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be useful for learners at HSK 4 or above who study agriculture or regional cuisine. Focus on recognizing the character in context, especially in discussions related to farming or regional specialties from Guangdong.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 穗 with other characters related to plants. For example, they might say '我喜欢穗米' (wǒ xǐhuān suì mǐ) intending to say 'I like rice', but the correct term for rice is 米 (mǐ) without using 穗.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 穗
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2The sound half惠 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaygrain
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 穗? 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 穗?
Decomposition of 穗
IDS Structure⿰禾惠
穗Full Character
=
禾he2
left
惠Hui4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 穗?
How to say ear of grain; fringe, tassel; Guangzhou in Chinese
“ear of grain; fringe, tassel; Guangzhou” in Chinese is穗suì
The character 穗 (suì) primarily refers to an ear of grain, particularly the part of cereal plants that contains the seeds. It can also denote a fringe or tassel, often associated with decorative elements in textiles or traditional costumes. In addition, it is an abbreviation for Guangzhou, a major city in southern China.
When to use 穗
When using 穗, learners often confuse it with similar-sounding characters like 睡 (shuì, sleep) or 随 (suí, follow). It is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with its use in agricultural discussions where precision is key. Common collocations include '穗子' (suìzi, ear of grain) and '穗状' (suìzhuàng, tassel-like).
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 穗 with other characters related to plants. For example, they might say '我喜欢穗米' (wǒ xǐhuān suì mǐ) intending to say 'I like rice', but the correct term for rice is 米 (mǐ) without using 穗.
Write 穗
穗
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Practice writing 穗 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 穗
穗 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). 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 3
Complete the Sentence
要是天气晴下去的话,小麦下星期就可以抽____.
The wheat should head out next week if the weather stays sunny.
