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椹 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
椹shènchopping boardx, 13 strokes, radical 木
shèn(shen4) T4
  1. 1chopping board
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

椹shèn(shen4)

The character 椹 (shèn) refers to a type of fruit, specifically the mulberry, and is also associated with the concept of a chopping board in certain contexts. It is less commonly used and may appear in older texts or specific dialects, making it less familiar to many Mandarin learners.

Strokes13Radical木
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, mulberries are valued for their nutritional benefits and are often associated with longevity and health. The use of chopping boards is also significant in Chinese cooking, where preparation is key to culinary success.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large, flat chopping board (represented by 椹) where you would slice juicy mulberries (the fruit). The character has the component 木 (wood) on the left, hinting at the wooden nature of a chopping board, while the right side suggests fullness, like a bountiful harvest of mulberries.

Meanings of 椹

shèn(shen4)
1chopping board
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 椹

椹Simplified
13Strokes
木Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 椹

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Podcast: 椹

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AI Study Notes for 椹

Usage Notes

This character is quite rare in modern usage, so it may not be encountered frequently in conversation or writing. Learners should be cautious about using it in formal settings due to its obscurity, and should instead focus on the more commonly used terms for chopping boards or fruits.

HSK Study Tips

As 椹 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, learners at all levels should prioritize more frequently used words related to food and kitchen items. However, recognizing it can enhance your understanding of historical texts or regional dialects.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 椹 with similar characters like 葚 (shèn), which is more commonly used. An example mistake is using 椹 when referring to general fruits, while the correct term should be specific to the type of fruit intended.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 椹

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Etymology of 椹

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

wood

Semantic (meaning)木
+
Phonetic (sound)甚
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 椹

  1. 1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half甚 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywood
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 椹? 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 椹?

Decomposition of 椹

IDS Structure⿰木甚
椹Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
甚shen2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 椹?

How to say chopping board in Chinese

“chopping board” in Chinese is椹shèn

The character 椹 (shèn) refers to a type of fruit, specifically the mulberry, and is also associated with the concept of a chopping board in certain contexts. It is less commonly used and may appear in older texts or specific dialects, making it less familiar to many Mandarin learners.

When to use 椹

This character is quite rare in modern usage, so it may not be encountered frequently in conversation or writing. Learners should be cautious about using it in formal settings due to its obscurity, and should instead focus on the more commonly used terms for chopping boards or fruits.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 椹 with similar characters like 葚 (shèn), which is more commonly used. An example mistake is using 椹 when referring to general fruits, while the correct term should be specific to the type of fruit intended.

Write 椹

椹

Practice writing 椹 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 椹

Words Containing This Character1
椹shènalso pr. [rèn]
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 椹 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 椹

椹 specifically refers to a type of fruit and can also mean a chopping board, while other characters might refer to different kitchen items or fruits.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 椹?

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.