classifier for houses, small buildings, institutions etc
HSK 5, c, 8 strokes, radical 户, rank #208, Medium
所
suǒ
that which
HSK 5, c, 8 strokes, radical 户, rank #208, Medium
所
suǒ
particle introducing a relative clause or passive
HSK 5, c, 8 strokes, radical 户, rank #208, Medium
所
suǒ
>个[gè]
HSK 5, c, 8 strokes, radical 户, rank #208, Medium
所
suǒ
place, location; "that which", a particle introducing a passive clause
HSK 5, c, 8 strokes, radical 户, rank #208, Medium
suǒ(suo3) T3
1actually
2place
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
所suǒ(suo3)
The character 所 (suǒ) has several meanings, primarily relating to a place or location. It is commonly used as a classifier for buildings and institutions, and it plays an important role in grammatical structures, particularly in forming passive sentences and introducing relative clauses. Understanding its usage is key for advanced Mandarin communication.
Strokes8Radical户Frequency#208DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, buildings and institutions often hold significant importance, reflecting social structure and community values. The use of 所 can signal not just a physical location but also the cultural significance of the spaces where people gather.
Memory Tip
Imagine a small building (the radical 所 looks like a small house) where people gather to talk about 'that which' happens there. This visual can help you remember that 所 relates to places and also serves a grammatical function, with 'suǒ' sounding like 'soar'—a place where ideas take flight.
Meanings of 所
suǒ(suo3)
1actually
2place
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 所
所Simplified
8Strokes
户Radical
连词连词cnqu (conj.)Part of Speech
#208Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 所
Podcast: 所
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AI Study Notes for 所
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a small building (the radical 所 looks like a small house) where people gather to talk about 'that which' happens there. This visual can help you remember that 所 relates to places and also serves a grammatical function, with 'suǒ' sounding like 'soar'—a place where ideas take flight.
Usage Notes
所 is often misused by learners, particularly in constructing passive sentences. Make sure to follow it with the correct verb structure, as in '所 + verb' to indicate the action being done to the subject. It's more common in written and formal contexts, and less so in everyday conversation.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 所 connects with other advanced grammatical structures. Students should focus on its role in passive voice constructions and relative clauses, practicing sentences that incorporate these elements to enhance fluency.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, buildings and institutions often hold significant importance, reflecting social structure and community values. The use of 所 can signal not just a physical location but also the cultural significance of the spaces where people gather.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to follow 所 with the appropriate verb in passive constructions. For example, saying '所写书' instead of '所写的书' (the book that was written) is a common error.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 所
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Grammar Patterns of 所
所 functions as a conjunction — it connects clauses or phrases. Many Chinese conjunctions come in pairs (虽然…但是…, 因为…所以…); use them at the front of the clauses they link. It carries 7 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.
Because I am very tired, I do not want to cook today.
Example Sentences for 所 (10)
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1
我一无所成，所以他们瞧不起我。
wǒ yī wú suǒ chéng， ， suǒ yǐ tā mén qiáo bù qǐ。
I wasn't successful, so they looked down on me.
2
我今天上午努力熨完了所有的衣服。
wǒ jīn tiān shàng wǔ nǔ lì yùn wán le suǒ yǒu de yī fú。
I managed to get all the ironing done this morning.
3
她知道有关我的学业、医院工作等所有的一切。
tā zhī dào yǒu guān wǒ de xué yè、 、 yī yuàn gōng zuò děng suǒ yǒu de yī。
She knew all about my schoolwork, my hospital work etc.
4
他宣称道：“我为自己的所作所为感到兴奋不已。”
tā xuān chēng dào：“ ：“ wǒ wéi zì jǐ de suǒ zuò suǒ wéi gǎn dào xīng fèn bù。”
"I'm absolutely thrilled to have done what I've done," he declared.
5
我知道那根本没什么大不了的，所以有些无动于衷。
wǒ zhī dào nà gēn běn méi shí mó dà bù le de， ， suǒ yǐ yǒu xiē wú dòng yú。
I know it's nothing serious and I feel quite unemotional about it.
6
我试着回忆在这里度过的所有美好时光。
wǒ shì zháo huí yì zài zhè lǐ dù guò de suǒ yǒu měi hǎo shí guāng。
I try to remember all the good times I've had here.
7
请于今日将随函附上的捐款表格用所提供的邮资预付的信封寄回。
qǐng yú jīn rì jiāng suí hán fù shàng de juān kuǎn biǎo gé yòng suǒ tí gōng de yóu zī yù fù de xìn fēng jì huí。
Return the enclosed Donation Form today in the prepaid envelope provided.
8
因为正在使用很多昂贵的设备，所以我非常紧张。
yīn wéi zhèng zài shǐ yòng hěn duō áng guì de shè bèi， ， suǒ yǐ wǒ fēi cháng jǐn。
I get very nervous because I'm using a lot of expensive equipment.
9
这些表达方式经常相互替代使用，但它们的含义确实有所不同。
zhè xiē biǎo dá fāng shì jīng cháng xiāng hù tì dài shǐ yòng， ， dàn tā mén de hán yì què shí yǒu suǒ bù。
These expressions are often used interchangeably, but they do have different meanings.
10
毫无疑问，他们身上也有人所共有的弱点。
háo wú yí wèn， ， tā mén shēn shàng yě yǒu rén suǒ gòng yǒu de ruò。
They have the usual quota of human weaknesses, no doubt.
Cultural Notes for 所
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, buildings and institutions often hold significant importance, reflecting social structure and community values. The use of 所 can signal not just a physical location but also the cultural significance of the spaces where people gather.
Word Family of 所
Compounds2
乺
齭
Words Containing This Character20
所以suǒyǐtherefore
所suǒplace
所有suǒyǒuall
所谓suǒwèiso-called所謂
有所yǒusuǒsomewhat
所在suǒzàiplace
厕所cèsuǒtoilet廁所
之所以zhīsuǒyǐthe reason why
无所谓wúsuǒwèito be indifferent無所謂
场所chǎngsuǒlocation場所
研究所yánjiūsuǒresearch institute
事务所shìwùsuǒoffice事務所
派出所local police station
所得one's gains
诊所zhěnsuǒclinic診所
所致to be caused by
所属suǒshǔbelonging to所屬
交易所exchange
一无所知yìwúsuǒzhīwithout an inkling一無所知
所长suǒchángwhat one is good at所長
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 所以 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 所
You can use 所 to form passive sentences, such as '这本书是我所写的' (This book was written by me).
It’s more common in formal writing or speech, so in casual conversations, you might not hear it as often.
Yes, it can refer to various places, but it's often used with specific classifiers to denote buildings or institutions.
