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March 24, 2026
社shè(she4)
The character '社' (shè) refers to a society, group, or organization, often implying a community or collective effort. It can denote a club or agency and historically referred to a deity associated with land and agriculture. This character is commonly used in contexts related to social organizations and community activities.
Strokes7Radical礻Frequency#5266DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, '社' also refers to the 'Society of the Land,' a spiritual practice where people worshipped the gods of land for agricultural prosperity, reflecting the agrarian roots of Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a '社' (shè) as a gathering place where people come together like a circle (the top part resembles a roof). Picture a group of friends meeting under this shelter to form a supportive community, which helps you remember its meaning related to society and groups.
Meanings of 社
shè(she4)
1society
2group
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 社
社Simplified
7Strokes
礻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5266Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 社
Podcast: 社
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AI Study Notes for 社
Quick Contrast
社 (shè) vs 组织 (zǔzhī) — use 社 when referring to a community or society, while 组织 is more appropriate for formal organizations or structured groups.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a '社' (shè) as a gathering place where people come together like a circle (the top part resembles a roof). Picture a group of friends meeting under this shelter to form a supportive community, which helps you remember its meaning related to society and groups.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse '社' with similar characters like '社交' (shèjiāo), which specifically means 'socializing.' It is generally used in formal contexts, such as '社团' (shètuán) meaning 'society' or 'association.' Pay attention to the tonal pronunciation as 'shè' (fourth tone) to avoid misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
Although '社' is not explicitly listed in the HSK levels, it is relevant for learners at HSK Level 4 and above due to its use in compound words. Focus on recognizing and using it in phrases related to social structures, such as '社区' (shèqū) meaning 'community.'
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, '社' also refers to the 'Society of the Land,' a spiritual practice where people worshipped the gods of land for agricultural prosperity, reflecting the agrarian roots of Chinese society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '社' with '社交' (shèjiāo) but use them incorrectly, such as saying '我喜欢社' instead of '我喜欢社交' to mean 'I like socializing.' Also, ensure the correct pronunciation with the fourth tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 社
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Grammar Patterns of 社
社 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 6 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.
The two communities are learning how to resolve their differences.
Cultural Notes for 社
💡Did you know?
'社' is often used in modern terms such as '社交' (social) and '社区' (community), reflecting the increasing importance of social interactions in contemporary Chinese society.
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, '社' also refers to the 'Society of the Land,' a spiritual practice where people worshipped the gods of land for agricultural prosperity, reflecting the agrarian roots of Chinese society.
Word Family of 社
Words Containing This Character20
社会shèhuìsociety社會
社区shèqūcommunity社區
新华社Xinhua News Agency新華社
社会主义shèhuìzhǔyìsocialism社會主義
社shèsociety
社交shèjiāointeraction
报社bàoshènewspaper (i.e. a company)報社
出版社chūbǎnshèpublishing house
黑社会criminal underworld黑社會
社团shètuánassociation社團
社长president or director (of association etc)社長
杂志社magazine publisher雜誌社
旅行社lǚxíngshètravel agency
社员commune member (PRC, 1958-1985)社員
公社commune
社保social insurance
社会学sociology社會學
社论shèlùneditorial (in a newspaper)社論
美联社Associated Press (AP)美聯社
中新社China News Service (CNS), abbr. for 中國新聞社|中国新闻社
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 社会 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 社
Common words that include 社 (shè) are 社会 (shèhuì), meaning 'society', and 社团 (shètuán), meaning 'club' or 'organization'. These words highlight the character's connection to social groups and communities in Chinese.
Yes, 社 (shè) is frequently used in modern Chinese. It appears in various contexts related to society and organizations, making it relevant for learners to understand and use in daily conversations.
社 (shè) means 'society' or 'group' in Chinese. It can refer to various types of organizations, such as clubs or agencies. Historically, it was also associated with the old god of the land in Chinese culture. Understanding this character can help you comprehend various terms related to social structures.
You can use 社 (shè) in a sentence to refer to a society or organization. For example, '我参加了一个社团' (Wǒ cānjiāle yīgè shètuán) means 'I joined a club.' This shows how社 can denote a group or community.
'社' is often found in terms like '社团' (shètuán) for 'association' and '社区' (shèqū) meaning 'community.'
'社' is primarily used in formal contexts, particularly when discussing organizations or groups.
'社' historically referred to the god of the land, highlighting its connection to agriculture and community in Chinese culture.
