Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
尗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
尗shūyounger brother; father's younger brotherzg, 6 strokes, radical 小
尗shūarchaic variant of 菽[shu1]unknown, 6 strokes, radical 小
尗shūarchaic variant of 叔[shu1]unknown, 6 strokes, radical 小
shū(shu1) T1
  1. 1younger brother; father's younger brother
  2. 2archaic variant of 菽[shu1]
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

尗shū(shu1)

The character 尗 (shū) refers to a younger brother or a father's younger brother in a familial context. It is considered an archaic variant of 菽 (shū), meaning 'bean', and also of 叔 (shū), which means 'uncle'. This character is rarely used in modern Mandarin but may appear in classical texts or discussions of family relationships.

Strokes6Radical小
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, familial hierarchy and relationships are significant, with specific terms for different family members. The use of characters like 尗 reflects the importance placed on lineage and familial bonds in Chinese society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a younger brother (弟弟) holding a large bean (豆) in his hand, representing the character 尗. The left side '耳' suggests listening to family, while the right side relates to the sound 'shū', like a younger brother calling out for attention.

Meanings of 尗

shū(shu1)
1younger brother; father's younger brother
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 尗

尗Simplified
6Strokes
小Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 尗

JasonAmy

Podcast: 尗

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 尗

Usage Notes

Due to its archaic status, 尗 is not commonly used in everyday conversation. Learners should be cautious with its pronunciation and context, as using it in modern settings may lead to confusion. It's important to recognize this character mainly in literary or historical texts.

HSK Study Tips

As 尗 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, focus on understanding its historical context and relation to other familial terms at your level. Consider how it connects to other characters like 叔 (shū) and its usage in classical literature.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 尗 with more commonly used terms like 叔 (shū). For example, saying '我有一个尗' (I have a younger brother) is incorrect; the proper term would be '我有一个弟弟' (I have a younger brother).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 尗

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 尗 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 尗

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

The smaller 小 of two brothers

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 尗

  1. 1The giveawayThe smaller 小 of two brothers
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 尗? 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 尗?

Decomposition of 尗

IDS Structure⿱上小
尗Full Character
=
上shang3
top
小xiao3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 尗?

How to say younger brother; father's younger brother in Chinese

“younger brother; father's younger brother” in Chinese is尗shū

The character 尗 (shū) refers to a younger brother or a father's younger brother in a familial context. It is considered an archaic variant of 菽 (shū), meaning 'bean', and also of 叔 (shū), which means 'uncle'. This character is rarely used in modern Mandarin but may appear in classical texts or discussions of family relationships.

When to use 尗

Due to its archaic status, 尗 is not commonly used in everyday conversation. Learners should be cautious with its pronunciation and context, as using it in modern settings may lead to confusion. It's important to recognize this character mainly in literary or historical texts.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 尗 with more commonly used terms like 叔 (shū). For example, saying '我有一个尗' (I have a younger brother) is incorrect; the proper term would be '我有一个弟弟' (I have a younger brother).

Write 尗

尗

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 尗

Words Containing This Character1
尗shūarchaic variant of 菽[shū]
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 尗 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 尗

No, 尗 is considered archaic and is rarely used in contemporary language.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 尗?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.