HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 日, rank #4595, Medium
晒
shài
(of the sun) to shine on
HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 日, rank #4595, Medium
晒
shài
to bask in (the sunshine)
HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 日, rank #4595, Medium
晒
shài
to dry (clothes, grain etc) in the sun
HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 日, rank #4595, Medium
晒
shài
(fig.) to expose and share (one's experiences and thoughts) on the Web (loanword from "share")
HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 日, rank #4595, Medium
晒
shài
(coll.) to give the cold shoulder to
HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 日, rank #4595, Medium
晒
shài
to dry in the sun; to expose to the sun
HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 日, rank #4595, Medium
shài(shai4) T4
1>晒[shài]
2(of the sun) to shine on
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March 24, 2026
晒(曬)shài(shai4)
晒 (shài) refers to the act of allowing sunlight to shine on something, which can be used literally for drying clothes or grains, or figuratively for sharing experiences online. In a more colloquial context, it can also mean to give someone the cold shoulder, indicating a lack of attention or interest.
Strokes10Radical日Frequency#4595DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In modern Chinese culture,晒 is often associated with social media practices where individuals share their daily lives and accomplishments, reflecting a cultural emphasis on personal branding and visibility.
Memory Tip
Imagine a bright sun (the radical 日) shining down on freshly washed clothes spread out to dry. The sound 'shài' can remind you of 'shine,' as it captures the essence of sunlight exposure.
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AI Study Notes for 晒
Quick Contrast
晒 (shài) vs 曝 (pù) — use 晒 for drying in sunlight, while 曝 typically refers to exposing something to light without the drying connotation.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a bright sun (the radical 日) shining down on freshly washed clothes spread out to dry. The sound 'shài' can remind you of 'shine,' as it captures the essence of sunlight exposure.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 晒 with 曬, as they are variants of each other. This word is commonly used in informal contexts, especially in social media discussions about sharing personal experiences. Pay attention to the tone; a mispronunciation could change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 晒 connects with other words related to nature and sharing experiences. Focus on its use in both literal and figurative contexts to enrich your vocabulary, especially in discussions about social media.
Cultural Note
In modern Chinese culture,晒 is often associated with social media practices where individuals share their daily lives and accomplishments, reflecting a cultural emphasis on personal branding and visibility.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 晒 with its variant 曬, mistakenly using 曬 where 晒 is preferred in modern usage. For example, saying '我在曬衣服' instead of '我在晒衣服' would be incorrect in contemporary contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 晒
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Grammar Patterns of 晒
晒 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. 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.
My slimming attempts tend to go in fits and starts.
9
树根剥皮后挂起来风干晒白。
shù gēn bāo pí hòu guà qǐ lái fēng gān shài bái。
The tree's roots are stripped and hung to season and bleach.
10
我皮肤很白，怎么也晒不黑。
wǒ pí fū hěn bái， ， zěn mó yě shài bù。
I have very pale skin that never tans.
Cultural Notes for 晒
🏮Cultural insight
In modern Chinese culture,晒 is often associated with social media practices where individuals share their daily lives and accomplishments, reflecting a cultural emphasis on personal branding and visibility.
Word Family of 晒
Compounds1
嗮
Words Containing This Character10
晒shài(of the sun) to shine on曬
晒太阳to put sth in the sun (e.g. to dry it)曬太陽
防晒霜suntan lotion防曬霜
晒干to dry in the sun曬乾
暴晒(of the sun) to scorch暴曬
晒黑to tan曬黑
曝晒to expose to strong sunlight曝曬
日晒雨淋weather-beaten日曬雨淋
晒斑sunburn spots (on skin)曬斑
晒图blueprint曬圖
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 晒 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 晒
You can use 晒 with words like '太阳' (sun) and '照片' (photos) to describe actions like '晒太阳' (bask in the sun) and '晒照片' (share photos).
Generally, 晒 is more commonly used in informal contexts, especially in conversations or social media posts. In formal writing, you might choose synonyms like 曬.
Yes, in colloquial usage, it can imply giving someone the cold shoulder, indicating a negative social interaction.
