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曙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
曙shǔdawn, daybreak; the dawn of an eran, 17 strokes, radical 日
曙shǔthe dawn of a new epoch (metaphor)unknown, 17 strokes, radical 日
曙shǔTaiwan pr. [shu4]unknown, 17 strokes, radical 日
shǔ(shu3) T3
  1. 1dawn, daybreak; the dawn of an era
  2. 2the dawn of a new epoch (metaphor)
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March 24, 2026

曙shǔ(shu3)

The character 曙 (shǔ) refers to the time of day when the sun rises, commonly known as dawn or daybreak. It can also be used metaphorically to signify the beginning of a new era or significant change, often associated with hope and renewal.

Strokes17Radical日
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, dawn is often associated with new beginnings and auspicious events, making 曙 a symbol of hope and renewal. It is common to see references to dawn in poetry and literature, reflecting the cultural appreciation for nature's rhythms.

Memory Tip

Imagine the sun peeking over the horizon at dawn, illuminating the sky with a soft light. The character 曙 resembles a sun rising (日) above the ground (土), symbolizing the start of a new day. Remember the 'sh' sound in 'shǔ' as the whisper of the morning breeze that accompanies dawn.

Meanings of 曙

shǔ(shu3)
1dawn, daybreak; the dawn of an era
2the dawn of a new epoch (metaphor)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 曙

曙Simplified
17Strokes
日Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 曙

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Podcast: 曙

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AI Study Notes for 曙

Quick Contrast

曙 (shǔ, dawn) vs 旭 (xù, rising sun) — use 曙 for the time of day when the sun rises, while 旭 emphasizes the sun's rays or brightness.

Usage Notes

While 曙 primarily refers to the dawn, it can be used in both literal and metaphorical contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; it's more poetic and not commonly used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 曙光 (shǔguāng), meaning 'dawn light' or 'hope'.

HSK Study Tips

Although 曙 is not part of the official HSK levels, it can be related to words like 早 (zǎo) meaning 'early' or 晨 (chén) meaning 'morning'. Students should focus on understanding its metaphorical use in literature and poetry, enhancing vocabulary related to time and change.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 曙 with similar characters like 书 (shū, book) or 术 (shù, technique) due to the similar pronunciation. Remember that 曙 specifically relates to dawn and is used in more poetic contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 曙

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Etymology of 曙

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

sun

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

Origin

曙 = 日 + 署. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 曙

IDS Structure⿰日署
曙Full Character
=
日Ri4
left
署shu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 曙?

How to say dawn, daybreak; the dawn of an era in Chinese

“dawn, daybreak; the dawn of an era” in Chinese is曙shǔ

The character 曙 (shǔ) refers to the time of day when the sun rises, commonly known as dawn or daybreak. It can also be used metaphorically to signify the beginning of a new era or significant change, often associated with hope and renewal.

When to use 曙

While 曙 primarily refers to the dawn, it can be used in both literal and metaphorical contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; it's more poetic and not commonly used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 曙光 (shǔguāng), meaning 'dawn light' or 'hope'.

曙 or something close to it

曙 (shǔ, dawn) vs 旭 (xù, rising sun) — use 曙 for the time of day when the sun rises, while 旭 emphasizes the sun's rays or brightness.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 曙 with similar characters like 书 (shū, book) or 术 (shù, technique) due to the similar pronunciation. Remember that 曙 specifically relates to dawn and is used in more poetic contexts.

Write 曙

曙

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

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Grammar Patterns of 曙

曙 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 3 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

Fill the gap

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

____光照临大地.

The early sun bathes the land in light.

Example Sentences for 曙 (2)

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1
曙光照临大地.

shǔ guāng zhào lín dà dì.

The early sun bathes the land in light.
2
曙光初现的时候,他离岸还有五哩.

shǔ guāng chū xiàn de shí hòu, , tā lí àn huán yǒu wǔ.

At first light he was still five miles from shore.
Exercise 1 of 1

Rebuild it

Rebuild it: “The early sun bathes the land in light.”

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Word Family of 曙

Words Containing This Character4
曙光shǔguāngdawn
曙shǔdawn
海曙区Haishu district of Ningbo city 寧波市|宁波市[Níng​bō​shì], Zhejiang海曙區
海曙Haishu district of Ningbo city 寧波市|宁波市[Níng​bō​shì], Zhejiang
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 曙

What does 曙光 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 曙

You can say '曙光乍现' (shǔguāng zhàxiàn), meaning 'the dawn breaks', which captures both the literal and metaphorical essence of new beginnings.

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