Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
簌 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
簌sùto rustle; falling flower petalsz, 17 strokes, radical ⺮
簌sùdense vegetationunknown, 17 strokes, radical ⺮
簌sùsieveunknown, 17 strokes, radical ⺮
sù(su4) T4
  1. 1to rustle; falling flower petals
  2. 2dense vegetation
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

簌sù(su4)

The character 簌 (sù) conveys the idea of a rustling sound, often associated with falling flower petals or the movement of dense vegetation in the wind. It can also refer to the action of sifting or sieving, emphasizing the delicate nature of what is being separated or filtered.

Strokes17Radical⺮
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the beauty of falling flower petals is often celebrated in poetry and art, symbolizing transience and the fleeting nature of life. The appreciation for nature's sounds and sights is deeply rooted in traditional aesthetics.

Memory Tip

Imagine a soft breeze causing flower petals to rustle and fall gently to the ground. The character 簌 can be visualized as a scene where petals dance in the air, the 'silk' radical (丝) reminding you of the softness, while the 'wood' component (木) suggests nature's elements at play.

Meanings of 簌

sù(su4)
1to rustle; falling flower petals
2dense vegetation
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 簌 means.

About 簌

簌Simplified
17Strokes
⺮Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 簌

JasonAmy

Podcast: 簌

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 簌

Quick Contrast

沙沙 (shāshā) vs 轻轻 (qīngqīng) — use 簌 (sù) for rustling sounds typically linked to nature, while 沙沙 (shāshā) is more for soft, granular sounds and 轻轻 (qīngqīng) refers to gentle, quiet actions.

Usage Notes

This character is typically used in literary or poetic contexts to evoke imagery of nature. Be cautious with the tone as it is pronounced with a falling tone (sù), which can be confused with the rising tone (sǔ). Common collocations include phrases related to nature and poetry.

HSK Study Tips

Though 簌 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to other nature-related words like 花 (huā, flower) and 风 (fēng, wind) found in lower levels. Focus on recognizing the character in written texts, especially in poetry.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 簌 with similar-sounding characters like 塌 (tā, to collapse), leading to miscommunication. Remember that 簌 relates to soft, rustling sounds, not solid actions.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 簌

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 簌 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

Jason Explains 簌 to You

Let me explain 簌 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 簌 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 簌?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 簌 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 簌

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

bamboo

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

Origin

簌 = ⺮ + 欶. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 簌

IDS Structure⿱⺮欶
簌Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
欶shuo4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 簌?

How to say to rustle; falling flower petals in Chinese

“to rustle; falling flower petals” in Chinese is簌sù

The character 簌 (sù) conveys the idea of a rustling sound, often associated with falling flower petals or the movement of dense vegetation in the wind. It can also refer to the action of sifting or sieving, emphasizing the delicate nature of what is being separated or filtered.

When to use 簌

This character is typically used in literary or poetic contexts to evoke imagery of nature. Be cautious with the tone as it is pronounced with a falling tone (sù), which can be confused with the rising tone (sǔ). Common collocations include phrases related to nature and poetry.

簌 or something close to it

沙沙 (shāshā) vs 轻轻 (qīngqīng) — use 簌 (sù) for rustling sounds typically linked to nature, while 沙沙 (shāshā) is more for soft, granular sounds and 轻轻 (qīngqīng) refers to gentle, quiet actions.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 簌 with similar-sounding characters like 塌 (tā, to collapse), leading to miscommunication. Remember that 簌 relates to soft, rustling sounds, not solid actions.

Write 簌

簌

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 簌?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Cultural Notes for 簌

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While the concept of rustling leaves or petals is universal, Western poetry may focus more on outright descriptions rather than the subtlety present in Chinese literature, which often uses such sounds to evoke emotions and settings.

Word Family of 簌

Words Containing This Character2
簌簌very slight sound
簌sùsieve
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 簌

What does 簌簌 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 簌

It primarily describes the rustling sound of leaves or petals but can also refer to the act of sifting through materials.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 簌?

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.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab