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March 24, 2026
嗽sòu(sou4)
The character 嗽 (sòu) primarily means 'cough' and can also refer to the act of gargling or clearing one's throat. It is often used in medical contexts or when discussing health-related topics, particularly regarding respiratory issues. The character conveys the action of expelling air from the throat, which can indicate illness or irritation.
Strokes14Radical口Frequency#46131DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, coughing is often associated with seasonal changes and health awareness. Traditional remedies for coughs, such as herbal teas, are commonly discussed, and the character 嗽 reflects the importance placed on respiratory health in daily life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person feeling a tickle in their throat, prompting them to cough. The character 嗽 resembles a throat being squeezed as air is forced out, and the pronunciation 'sòu' sounds like 'so' when someone is about to cough. Picture someone saying 'so' as they prepare to clear their throat.
Meanings of 嗽
sòu(sou4)
1cough
2to gargle; to cough; to clear the throat
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 嗽
嗽Simplified
14Strokes
口Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#46131Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嗽
Podcast: 嗽
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AI Study Notes for 嗽
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person feeling a tickle in their throat, prompting them to cough. The character 嗽 resembles a throat being squeezed as air is forced out, and the pronunciation 'sòu' sounds like 'so' when someone is about to cough. Picture someone saying 'so' as they prepare to clear their throat.
Usage Notes
Learners should note that 嗽 is often used in more formal contexts related to health or medicine, while colloquial expressions for coughing might differ. Common collocations include 嗽声 (sòu shēng - cough sound) and 咳嗽 (ké sòu - to cough). Be careful with the tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 嗽 is not in the standard HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to other health-related terms. Students should focus on recognizing its use in context and connecting it with other medical vocabulary at this level to enhance their understanding of health discussions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, coughing is often associated with seasonal changes and health awareness. Traditional remedies for coughs, such as herbal teas, are commonly discussed, and the character 嗽 reflects the importance placed on respiratory health in daily life.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嗽 with 咳嗽 (ké sòu), using them interchangeably in casual contexts. Remember, 嗽 is more formal and specific to the act of coughing, while 咳嗽 is used more broadly in conversation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嗽
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Grammar Patterns of 嗽
嗽 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.
Try gargling with salt water as soon as a cough begins.
4
接着他便控制不住地剧烈咳嗽了一阵。
jiē zháo tā biàn kòng zhì bù zhù dì jù liè ké sòu le yī zhèn。
He was then overcome by a terrible fit of coughing.
5
他一咳嗽就把卡在喉咙里的鱼刺咳出来了.
tā yī ké sòu jiù bǎ kǎ zài hóu lóng lǐ de yú cì ké chū lái le.
The coughing dislodged the fishbone from his throat.
6
他一阵咳嗽咳破了一根血管.
tā yī zhèn ké sòu ké pò le yī gēn xiě guǎn.
He burst a blood - vessel in a fit of coughing.
7
还是别跑紧了, 一咬牙就咳嗽,心口窝辣蒿蒿的!
huán shì bié pǎo jǐn le, , yī yǎo yá jiù ké, sòu , xīn kǒu wō là hāo!
If you strain to run fast, you start coughing and feel a constriction in the chest.
8
咳嗽差不多好了, 可以喝冻的, 吃辣的 吗 ?
ké sòu chà bù duō hǎo le, , kě yǐ hē dòng, de , chī là?
Cough is about the same good, can drink aspic, eat hot?
9
咳嗽能清除肺里的黏液.
ké sòu néng qīng chú fèi lǐ de nián yè.
Coughing clears the lungs of mucus.
Cultural Notes for 嗽
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, coughing is often associated with seasonal changes and health awareness. Traditional remedies for coughs, such as herbal teas, are commonly discussed, and the character 嗽 reflects the importance placed on respiratory health in daily life.
Word Family of 嗽
Words Containing This Character2
咳嗽késouto cough
嗽sòucough
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 咳嗽 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嗽
Some synonyms for 嗽 include 咳嗽 (késòu), which specifically means 'to cough.' While 嗽 is more general, 咳嗽 is more commonly used in medical contexts.
Yes, 嗽 (sòu) is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing health-related topics or when someone has a cold. It's a useful term to know for expressing symptoms.
You can use 嗽 (sòu) in a sentence like '我嗽了几声' (Wǒ sòu le jǐ shēng), which means 'I coughed a few times.' This demonstrates its usage in describing the action of coughing.
嗽 (sòu) primarily means 'cough' in Chinese. It can also refer to the act of gargling or clearing the throat. This character is often used in contexts related to throat-related actions or symptoms.
You can say, '我今天早上嗽了几声。' (I coughed a few times this morning.)
嗽 is typically used in more formal contexts, especially in medical discussions.
While 嗽 refers specifically to the act of coughing, 咳嗽 (ké sòu) is the more commonly used term for 'to cough' in everyday conversation.
