one of the 64 trigrams of the Book of Changes (old)
HSK 7, n, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #9514, Hard
sǔn(sun3) T3
1to decrease
2to lose
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March 24, 2026
损(損)sǔn(sun3)
The character 损 (sǔn) primarily means to lose, decrease, or damage something. It is commonly used in contexts involving loss, whether financial, physical, or emotional. The term can also convey a sense of sarcasm or derision when referring to someone's remarks or behavior.
Strokes10Radical扌Frequency#9514DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 损 often relates to the idea of balance and harmony, which are important in traditional philosophies like Taoism. It can also refer to the notion of 'loss' in the context of personal sacrifice for greater gains.
Memory Tip
Think of 损 (sǔn) as a 'sun' being covered by clouds, representing loss or damage. The left part '损' resembles a person (亻) who is losing something valuable, while the right part (損) can be thought of as the clouds blocking the sun, symbolizing a decrease in brightness or value.
Meanings of 损
sǔn(sun3)
1to decrease
2to lose
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 损
损Simplified
損Traditional
10Strokes
扌Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9514Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 损
Podcast: 损
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AI Study Notes for 损
Quick Contrast
损 (sǔn) vs 失 (shī) — use 损 when emphasizing damage or decrease, while 失 focuses on loss without the implication of damage.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 损 (sǔn) as a 'sun' being covered by clouds, representing loss or damage. The left part '损' resembles a person (亻) who is losing something valuable, while the right part (損) can be thought of as the clouds blocking the sun, symbolizing a decrease in brightness or value.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of using 损 in both formal and informal contexts; it is suitable for everyday conversation but can also appear in written language. Common collocations include 损失 (sǔnshī, loss) and 损害 (sǔnhài, to harm). Avoid confusing 损 with other characters that have similar pronunciations but different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 损 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is relevant for intermediate learners as it connects with concepts of loss and damage. Focus on its usage in phrases and idiomatic expressions to enhance your understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 损 often relates to the idea of balance and harmony, which are important in traditional philosophies like Taoism. It can also refer to the notion of 'loss' in the context of personal sacrifice for greater gains.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 损 with 损失 (sǔnshī, loss) and use them interchangeably. Remember that 损 focuses more on the act of causing damage, while 损失 refers specifically to the outcome of that damage.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 损
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Grammar Patterns of 损
损 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 9 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.
About forty prisoners are still barricaded inside the wrecked buildings.
Cultural Notes for 损
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 损 often relates to the idea of balance and harmony, which are important in traditional philosophies like Taoism. It can also refer to the notion of 'loss' in the context of personal sacrifice for greater gains.
Word Family of 损
Words Containing This Character20
损失sǔnshīloss損失
损伤sǔnshāngto harm損傷
损害sǔnhàiharm損害
损sǔnto lose損
损坏sǔnhuàito damage損壞
亏损kuīsǔndeficit虧損
受损to suffer damage受損
磨损mósǔnabrasion磨損
破损to become damaged破損
完好无损in good condition完好無損
缺损defective缺損
损毁to ruin損毀
损耗wear and tear損耗
损益profit and loss損益
毁损impair, damage毀損
有损to be harmful (to)有損
损友bad friend損友
劳损strain (medicine)勞損
损人利己sǔnrénlìjǐharming others for one's personal benefit (idiom); personal gain to the detriment of others損人利己
贬损to mock貶損
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 损失 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 损
You should use 损 when talking about situations involving loss, damage, or harm. It's also appropriate in casual conversations when discussing sarcasm or derision. Being aware of the context can help you use this character naturally in both formal and informal settings.
Some synonyms for 损 include 破坏 (pòhuài), which means to destroy or damage, and 失去 (shīqù), which means to lose. Each synonym carries a slightly different nuance, so it’s important to choose the right one based on the context.
You can use 损 in sentences to describe loss or damage, such as '他的行为损害了我们的关系' (His actions harmed our relationship). Additionally, it can be used in a more colloquial context, like '他总是损我' (He always makes sarcastic remarks about me). Understanding the context will help you use this character effectively.
损 (sǔn) means to decrease, lose, damage, or harm. It can also be used colloquially to describe speaking sarcastically or deriding someone. This character is commonly used in various contexts, including both literal and figurative language.
损 (sǔn) emphasizes damage or harm, while 失 (shī) focuses more on loss or missing something.
Generally, 损 carries negative connotations, but in certain contexts, it may refer to the idea of sacrificing something for a greater good.
It is pronounced as sǔn with a falling tone on the 'u'.
