unknown, 11 strokes, radical 王, rank #38226, Very Hard
suǒ(suo3) T3
1petty; trifling; troublesome
2fragmentary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
琐(瑣)suǒ(suo3)
The character 琐 (suǒ) conveys the idea of something being petty, trifling, or insignificant. It is often used in contexts where issues or details are considered bothersome or fragmentary, suggesting a sense of annoyance or triviality about these matters.
Strokes11Radical王Frequency#38226DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, there is often a significant emphasis on harmony and avoiding unnecessary disputes, making琐事 (trivial matters) something to be mindful of in social interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a small, shiny piece of jewelry (琐) that is so tiny and trivial that it gets lost easily. The character has the radical for 'jade' (王), representing something precious, but combined with the idea of being 'trifling,' it creates a contrast between value and insignificance.
Meanings of 琐
suǒ(suo3)
1petty; trifling; troublesome
2fragmentary
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 琐
琐Simplified
瑣Traditional
11Strokes
王Radical
形容词性语素xíngróngcíadjective root (adj.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 琐
Podcast: 琐
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 琐
Quick Contrast
琐 (suǒ) vs 微 (wēi) — use 琐 for trivial matters that are bothersome, while 微 emphasizes something small or minute without the negative connotation.
Usage Notes
琐 is often used in negative contexts to describe things that are bothersome or unimportant. It is essential to use it with the right tone, as it can come off as dismissive if used inappropriately. Common collocations include 琐事 (suǒ shì), meaning 'trivial matters'.
HSK Study Tips
Though not part of HSK vocabulary, 琐 connects with words related to triviality and pettiness. Students should focus on recognizing it in phrases and practice using it to describe minor issues in conversations.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 琐 with similar-sounding words like 锁 (suǒ), which means 'lock'. For example, saying '我有很多琐' instead of '我有很多琐事' is incorrect; the latter is the proper way to refer to 'trivial matters'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 琐
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 琐 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
2The sound half⺌ is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayjade
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 琐? 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 琐?
Decomposition of 琐
IDS Structure⿰王⿱⺌贝
琐Full Character
=
王Wang2
left
⺌xiao3
top
贝Bei4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 琐?
How to say petty; trifling; troublesome in Chinese
“petty; trifling; troublesome” in Chinese is琐suǒ
The character 琐 (suǒ) conveys the idea of something being petty, trifling, or insignificant. It is often used in contexts where issues or details are considered bothersome or fragmentary, suggesting a sense of annoyance or triviality about these matters.
When to use 琐
琐 is often used in negative contexts to describe things that are bothersome or unimportant. It is essential to use it with the right tone, as it can come off as dismissive if used inappropriately. Common collocations include 琐事 (suǒ shì), meaning 'trivial matters'.
琐 or something close to it
琐 (suǒ) vs 微 (wēi) — use 琐 for trivial matters that are bothersome, while 微 emphasizes something small or minute without the negative connotation.
What learners get wrong
Learners may confuse 琐 with similar-sounding words like 锁 (suǒ), which means 'lock'. For example, saying '我有很多琐' instead of '我有很多琐事' is incorrect; the latter is the proper way to refer to 'trivial matters'.
Write 琐
琐
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 琐 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 琐
琐 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他指责我为丁点____事大惊小怪。
He accused me of making a great fuss about trivialities.
Example Sentences for 琐 (6)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他指责我为丁点琐事大惊小怪。
tā zhǐ zé wǒ wéi dīng diǎn suǒ shì dà jīng xiǎo guài。
He accused me of making a great fuss about trivialities.
