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勺子 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
勺子sháoziscoopHSK 3, n, rank #8887, Hard
勺子sháoziladleHSK 3, n, rank #8887, Hard
sháozi(shao2zi5) T2
  1. 1scoop
  2. 2ladle
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March 24, 2026
勺子sháozi(shao2zi5)

勺子 (sháozi) refers to a scoop or ladle, a common kitchen utensil used for serving liquids or semi-liquid foods. It is often used in both cooking and dining contexts, highlighting its versatility in food preparation and consumption.

Frequency#8887DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese dining culture, the use of a 勺子 is essential as many dishes are served in a communal style, requiring diners to scoop from shared bowls. Understanding this utensil helps appreciate the communal aspect of Chinese meals.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant spoon (勺) lifting a big bowl of soup. The character 勺 looks like a spoon, and the pronunciation 'shao' sounds like 'shovel' — both involve scooping! Picture scooping up delicious food to remember the meaning.

Meanings of 勺子

sháozi(shao2zi5)
1scoop
2ladle
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 勺子

勺子Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#8887Frequency Rank
把Measure Word
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L3HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 勺子

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Podcast: 勺子

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AI Study Notes for 勺子

Quick Contrast

汤匙 (tāngchí) - use 勺子 (sháozi) for general scooping, while 汤匙 (tāngchí) specifically refers to a spoon for soup.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant spoon (勺) lifting a big bowl of soup. The character 勺 looks like a spoon, and the pronunciation 'shao' sounds like 'shovel' — both involve scooping! Picture scooping up delicious food to remember the meaning.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 勺子 with other utensils like 叉子 (fork) or 刀 (knife). Remember that 勺子 is specifically for scooping. It's commonly used in both formal and informal settings, but ensure to use the correct measure word '把' when mentioning quantities, e.g., 一把勺子 (one scoop).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 4 word, 勺子 connects to other kitchen and dining vocabulary. Focus on its usage in context with other food-related words, such as 碗 (bowl) and 盘子 (plate). Practicing sentences about cooking will reinforce learning.

Cultural Note

In Chinese dining culture, the use of a 勺子 is essential as many dishes are served in a communal style, requiring diners to scoop from shared bowls. Understanding this utensil helps appreciate the communal aspect of Chinese meals.

Common Mistakes

Learners might say '我用刀子吃饭' (I eat with a knife) instead of using 勺子 for soup. Correctly saying '我用勺子吃汤' (I eat soup with a spoon) avoids confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 勺子

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Component Characters

勺sháospoon
HSK 63 strokes勹
View full entry
子zison
HSK 33 strokes子
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Write 勺子

勺
子

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

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Grammar Patterns of 勺子

勺子 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 2 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

他用____把冰激凌舀进杯子，喂给她吃。

He spooned the ice cream into a cup and fed it to her.

Example Sentences for 勺子 (6)

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1
他用勺子把冰激凌舀进杯子，喂给她吃。

tā yòng sháo zǐ bǎ bīng jī líng yǎo jìn bēi zǐ， ， wèi gěi tā。

He spooned the ice cream into a cup and fed it to her.
2
她端着勺子深深闻了一下,便迅速喝起来.

tā duān zháo sháo zǐ shēn shēn wén le yī xià, , biàn xùn sù hē qǐ.

She tilted the dipper , drew a deep breath and drank swiftly.
3
接着,她又一次闻了闻,把勺子端到了嘴边.

jiē zháo, , tā yòu yī cì wén le, wén , bǎ sháo zǐ duān dào le.

She drew another breath and raised it again.
4
用勺子抄起薄饼，把它们转盛到盘子里。

yòng sháo zǐ chāo qǐ báo bǐng， ， bǎ tā mén zhuǎn shèng dào pán zǐ。

Remove the wafers with a spoon and transfer them to a plate.
5
他吹了吹勺子里的汤，然后啧啧地喝了下去。

tā chuī le chuī sháo zǐ lǐ de tāng， ， rán hòu zé zé dì hē le xià。

He blew on his soup before slurping it off the spoon.
6
玛丽在她的咖啡里放了些糖, 然后用勺子搅动着.

mǎ lì zài tā de kā fēi lǐ fàng le xiē táng, , rán hòu yòng sháo zǐ jiǎo dòng.

Mary put the sugar in her coffee, and stirred it with a spoon.

Cultural Notes for 勺子

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese dining culture, the use of a 勺子 is essential as many dishes are served in a communal style, requiring diners to scoop from shared bowls. Understanding this utensil helps appreciate the communal aspect of Chinese meals.

Frequently Asked Questions about 勺子

汤勺 specifically refers to a soup ladle, which is typically larger and deeper than a standard 勺子 used for scooping.