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耍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
耍Shuǎsurname ShuaHSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 而, rank #1508, Hard
耍Shuǎto play withHSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 而, rank #1508, Hard
耍Shuǎto wieldHSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 而, rank #1508, Hard
耍Shuǎto act (cool etc)HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 而, rank #1508, Hard
耍Shuǎto display (a skill, one's temper etc)HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 而, rank #1508, Hard
耍Shuǎto play, to frolic, to amuseHSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 而, rank #1508, Hard
Shuǎ(Shua3) T3
  1. 1to play with
  2. 2to wield
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March 24, 2026
耍Shuǎ(Shua3)

The character 耍 (shuǎ) primarily means 'to play' or 'to frolic,' often implying a sense of amusement or lightheartedness. It can also refer to displaying skills, acting in a cool manner, or wielding something, such as a tool or weapon. This term is commonly used in informal contexts, making it a versatile addition to conversational Mandarin.

Strokes9Radical而Frequency#1508DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of play is often linked to traditional arts or performances, where one might '耍' their skills in a public display, such as in martial arts or acrobatics. This reflects the value placed on skill and enjoyment in social settings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a child in a park, playing with their toys and showing off their cool moves to impress their friends. The character 耍 has a radical '扌' (hand), suggesting actions performed by hands, which connects to the idea of playing and displaying skills.

Meanings of 耍

Shuǎ(Shua3)
1to play with
2to wield
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 耍

耍Simplified
9Strokes
而Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1508Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 耍

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AI Study Notes for 耍

Quick Contrast

玩 (wán, to play) - use 耍 when emphasizing a playful display of skill or coolness, rather than just playing.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a child in a park, playing with their toys and showing off their cool moves to impress their friends. The character 耍 has a radical '扌' (hand), suggesting actions performed by hands, which connects to the idea of playing and displaying skills.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 耍 with similar verbs like 玩 (wán), which also means 'to play,' but is more general. 耍 is often used in informal contexts, while 玩 can be used more broadly. Common collocations include 耍花样 (shuǎ huāyàng - to show off), which emphasizes the display aspect.

HSK Study Tips

At HSK Level 6, students should focus on understanding both the playful and skillful nuances of 耍. It connects well with other verbs of action, allowing learners to expand their vocabulary around recreational activities and demonstrations of skill.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of play is often linked to traditional arts or performances, where one might '耍' their skills in a public display, such as in martial arts or acrobatics. This reflects the value placed on skill and enjoyment in social settings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 耍 with 玩, using them interchangeably, such as saying '我喜欢耍' when they mean '我喜欢玩' (I like to play). Remember, 耍 has a more specialized meaning related to displaying skills.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 耍

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Etymology of 耍

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A woman 女 wearing a beard 而 for disguise

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 耍?

Decomposition of 耍

IDS Structure⿱而女
耍Full Character
=
而er2
top
女nü3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 耍?

Write 耍

耍

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

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Grammar Patterns of 耍

耍 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 6 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.

Related grammar lessons1
Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

公园里，老人们在打太极。孩子们在追逐玩____。年轻人坐在长椅上看手机。

In the park, the elderly were doing tai chi. Children were chasing each other and playing. Young people sat on benches looking at their phones.

Example Sentences for 耍 (10)

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1
别跟我耍花招，泰勒，要不我会杀了你。

bié gēn wǒ shuǎ huā zhāo， ， tài， lè ， yào bù wǒ huì shā。

Don't try and double-cross me, Taylor, because I'll kill you.
2
阿曼达耍手段在市政部门给罗宾找了份差事。

ā màn dá shuǎ shǒu duàn zài shì zhèng bù mén gěi luó bīn zhǎo le fèn chà shì。

Amanda had wangled a job for Robyn with the council.
3
你是个耍阴谋诡计的小魔鬼，对不对？

nǐ shì gè shuǎ yīn móu guǐ jì de xiǎo mó guǐ， ， duì bù？

You're a scheming little devil, aren't you?
4
他对耍弄他的人毫不客气。

tā duì shuǎ nòng tā de rén háo bù kè qì。

He does not tolerate anyone who mucks him about.
5
结果是，企业人浮于事，到处都是耍笔杆子的人。

jié guǒ shì， ， qǐ yè rén fú yú， shì ， dào chǔ dū shì shuǎ bǐ gān zǐ。

As a result, industry was overmanned and pen-pushers were everywhere.
6
凭我对他的了解，他不会耍滑头的。

píng wǒ duì tā de le jiě， ， tā bù huì shuǎ huá tóu。

From what I know of him he doesn't play silly games.
7
他能表演好几种令人惊叹的把戏，包括哑剧和玩杂耍。

tā néng biǎo yǎn hǎo jī zhǒng líng rén jīng tàn de bǎ xì， ， bāo kuò yǎ jù hé wán zá。

He can perform an astonishing variety of acts, including mime and juggling.
8
我认为他们被耍得太过头了。

wǒ rèn wéi tā mén bèi shuǎ dé tài guò tóu le。

I think they've been messed around far too much.
9
女孩子们拿着桶和铲子在沙滩上快活地玩耍。

nǚ hái zǐ mén ná zháo tǒng hé chǎn zǐ zài shā tān shàng kuài huó dì wán shuǎ。

The girls happily played in the sand with buckets and spades.
10
他又耍老花招了——他一直靠装扮成盲人从人们手里骗取钱财.

tā yòu shuǎ lǎo huā zhāo le—— —— tā yī zhí kào zhuāng bàn chéng máng rén cóng rén mén shǒu lǐ piàn qǔ qián.

He's up to his old tricks again — he's been getting money from people by pretending to be blind.

Cultural Notes for 耍

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of play is often linked to traditional arts or performances, where one might '耍' their skills in a public display, such as in martial arts or acrobatics. This reflects the value placed on skill and enjoyment in social settings.

Word Family of 耍

Words Containing This Character19
耍Shuǎto wield
玩耍wánshuǎto amuse oneself
杂耍a sideshow雜耍
耍花招to play tricks on sb
耍赖shuǎlàito act shamelessly耍賴
戏耍to amuse oneself戲耍
耍猴to tease
耍嘴皮子to talk glibly
耍弄to play with
耍滑to resort to tricks
耍脾气to go into a huff耍脾氣
耍贫嘴(coll.) to wag one's tongue耍貧嘴
耍花样to play tricks on sb耍花樣
耍滑头to resort to tricks耍滑頭
耍泼(dialect) to make an unreasonable scene耍潑
耍手腕to play tricks
耍钱to gamble耍錢
嬉耍to play
耍嘴皮big-headed
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 耍 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 耍

No, 耍 is generally informal and is best suited for conversational contexts.