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March 24, 2026
摔shuāi(shuai1)
The character 摔 (shuāi) primarily means 'to throw down' or 'to fall.' It is often used in contexts where something is dropped or breaks upon falling, as well as when someone stumbles or trips. This verb carries a sense of abruptness and can imply an element of danger or a sudden loss of control.
Strokes14Radical扌Frequency#1887DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, physical expressions of emotion, like falling or stumbling, can be tied to superstitions or beliefs about luck. For instance, tripping can be seen as a bad omen, which makes the use of 摔 in storytelling or conversation particularly poignant.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (representing '人', which is a common radical) who accidentally throws down a fragile vase (the '摔' character suggests a downward motion). Picture the vase tumbling and shattering on the ground, emphasizing the action of 'throwing down' and the sound of 'shattered' linking to the pronunciation 'shuāi.'
Meanings of 摔
shuāi(shuai1)
1to throw down
2to fall
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 摔
摔Simplified
14Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1887Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 摔
Podcast: 摔
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AI Study Notes for 摔
Quick Contrast
摔 (shuāi) vs 跌 (diē) — use 摔 when emphasizing the act of throwing down or the abruptness of falling, whereas 跌 focuses more on the action of falling itself.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person (representing '人', which is a common radical) who accidentally throws down a fragile vase (the '摔' character suggests a downward motion). Picture the vase tumbling and shattering on the ground, emphasizing the action of 'throwing down' and the sound of 'shattered' linking to the pronunciation 'shuāi.'
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the context when using 摔, as it can denote both intentional and unintentional actions. It is more common in informal settings, so be careful when using it in formal speech. A common collocation is 摔倒 (shuāi dǎo), which means 'to fall down.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 摔 is not specifically listed in the HSK levels, it connects with other verbs that describe motion and actions. For HSK learners, focusing on its usage with other movement-related verbs will enhance comprehension. Practice using it in sentences about accidents or mishaps to solidify understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, physical expressions of emotion, like falling or stumbling, can be tied to superstitions or beliefs about luck. For instance, tripping can be seen as a bad omen, which makes the use of 摔 in storytelling or conversation particularly poignant.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 摔 with the more general term 倒 (dǎo). For instance, saying '我摔倒' (wǒ shuāi dǎo) is correct, but using 摔 incorrectly in a context that doesn't imply 'throwing down' can lead to confusion. Always ensure the context suggests a sudden fall or drop.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 摔
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Grammar Patterns of 摔
摔 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 4 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.
jiù zài nà yī kè， ， wú xiàn diàn yáo kòng qì shuāi dé fěn。
At that point the radio handset fell to pieces.
8
那匹马前蹄腾空向后仰，把骑手摔了下去。
nà pǐ mǎ qián tí téng kōng xiàng hòu yǎng， ， bǎ qí shǒu shuāi le xià。
The horse reared and threw off its rider.
9
我不会大喊大叫或摔茶杯。
wǒ bù huì dà hǎn dà jiào huò shuāi chá bēi。
I don't rant and rave or throw tea cups.
10
我看了一遍录像带上他摔倒时的慢动作重放。
wǒ kàn le yī biàn lù xiàng dài shàng tā shuāi dǎo shí de màn dòng zuò zhòng fàng。
I watched a slow-motion videotape replay of his fall.
Cultural Notes for 摔
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, physical expressions of emotion, like falling or stumbling, can be tied to superstitions or beliefs about luck. For instance, tripping can be seen as a bad omen, which makes the use of 摔 in storytelling or conversation particularly poignant.
Word Family of 摔
Words Containing This Character11
摔shuāito fall
摔倒shuāidǎoto fall down
摔跤shuāijiāoto wrestle
摔死to fall to one's death
摔坏to drop and break摔壞
摔交to wrestle
摔断to fall and break摔斷
摔打to knock
摔破to fall and smash into pieces
摔跟头to fall摔跟頭
破罐破摔lit. to smash a cracked pot (idiom); crazy despair in the face of a blemish, defect, error or setback
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 摔 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 摔
Yes, 摔 can refer to both people falling down and objects being thrown down or dropped.
摔 is generally considered informal and is used more commonly in everyday conversation.
Yes, similar words include 倒 (dǎo), which means 'to fall,' but 摔 emphasizes the action of throwing down.
