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March 24, 2026
叔叔shūshu(shu1shu5)
叔叔 (shūshu) refers specifically to one's father's younger brother, but it is also commonly used to address any older male family friend or acquaintance in a respectful or familial manner. This term is a way to convey warmth and respect, often used in both formal and informal contexts.
Frequency#1175DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, addressing someone as 叔叔 reflects a sense of community and respect for elders. It is common for children to use this term for family friends, which emphasizes the importance of familial-like bonds in social interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a young boy (叔) wearing a big hat (叔), symbolizing his youthful status as the younger brother. The hat connects the sound 'shū' to 'uncle' as it represents warmth and protection, like an uncle's role in a child's life. Picture the boy proudly introducing his uncle at a family gathering.
Meanings of 叔叔
shūshu(shu1shu5)
1father's younger brother
2uncle
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About 叔叔
叔叔Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1175Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 叔叔
Podcast: 叔叔
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AI Study Notes for 叔叔
Quick Contrast
舅舅 (jiùjiu) refers to one's mother's brother, while 叔叔 (shūshu) specifically refers to one's father's younger brother.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a young boy (叔) wearing a big hat (叔), symbolizing his youthful status as the younger brother. The hat connects the sound 'shū' to 'uncle' as it represents warmth and protection, like an uncle's role in a child's life. Picture the boy proudly introducing his uncle at a family gathering.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 叔叔 with other family terms like '舅舅' (jiùjiu), which means maternal uncle. While 叔叔 can be used informally for older male acquaintances, using it in a formal context may seem too casual. Remember to use the correct tone: the first syllable (shū) is high-level, while the second (shu) is neutral.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 3, students should focus on family terms, as they help in building vocabulary around personal relationships. 叔叔 is a good example of how familial terms can expand to broader social contexts, so practice using it in various sentences about family members.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, addressing someone as 叔叔 reflects a sense of community and respect for elders. It is common for children to use this term for family friends, which emphasizes the importance of familial-like bonds in social interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 叔叔 with other family terms like 舅舅 (jiùjiu). For example, saying '我的舅舅' (wǒ de jiùjiu) when referring to a father's younger brother is incorrect; the correct term is '我的叔叔' (wǒ de shūshu).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 叔叔
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Grammar Patterns of 叔叔
叔叔 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 5 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.
The book follows four characters, loosely based on my uncles.
5
阿姨和叔叔建议她去商店工作。
ā yí hé shū shū jiàn yì tā qù shāng diàn gōng zuò。
Auntie and Uncle suggested she serve in the shop.
6
乔治叔叔迅速爬下梯子，敏捷地上了船。
qiáo zhì shū shū xùn sù pá xià tī zǐ， ， mǐn jié dì shàng le。
Uncle George quickly descended the ladder and nimbly stepped aboard.
7
汤姆学他胖叔叔骑自行车的样子.
tāng mǔ xué tā pàng shū shū qí zì háng chē de yàng zǐ.
Tom mimicked his fat uncle riding a bicycle.
8
他突然扑过去抱吉姆叔叔的腿,想把他撂倒.
tā tū rán pū guò qù bào jí mǔ shū shū de tuǐ, , xiǎng bǎ tā liào.
He made a sudden dive for UncleJim's legs to try to trip him up.
9
就算是能从他叔叔那里骗一块钱，他也会去做。
jiù suàn shì néng cóng tā shū shū nà lǐ piàn yī kuài qián， ， tā yě huì qù。
If he could beat his uncle out of a dollar he'd do it.
10
叔叔呵那个小姑娘的痒时,小姑娘笑起来.
shū shū hē nà gè xiǎo gū niáng de yǎng shí, , xiǎo gū niáng xiào qǐ.
The little girl laughed when her uncle gave her a tickle.
Cultural Notes for 叔叔
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, addressing someone as 叔叔 reflects a sense of community and respect for elders. It is common for children to use this term for family friends, which emphasizes the importance of familial-like bonds in social interactions.
Frequently Asked Questions about 叔叔
No, 叔叔 specifically refers to your father's younger brother. For your mother's brother, use 舅舅 (jiùjiu).
It can be both formal and informal, but it's generally more casual when addressing a family friend.
Make sure to pronounce the first syllable with a high tone (shū) and the second syllable in a neutral tone (shu).
