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爽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
爽shuǎngbrightHSK 7, nr, 11 strokes, radical 爻, rank #1316, Hard
爽shuǎngclearHSK 7, nr, 11 strokes, radical 爻, rank #1316, Hard
爽shuǎngcrispHSK 7, nr, 11 strokes, radical 爻, rank #1316, Hard
爽shuǎngopenHSK 7, nr, 11 strokes, radical 爻, rank #1316, Hard
爽shuǎngfrankHSK 7, nr, 11 strokes, radical 爻, rank #1316, Hard
爽shuǎngstraightforwardHSK 7, nr, 11 strokes, radical 爻, rank #1316, Hard
爽shuǎngto feel wellHSK 7, nr, 11 strokes, radical 爻, rank #1316, Hard
爽shuǎngfineHSK 7, nr, 11 strokes, radical 爻, rank #1316, Hard
爽shuǎngpleasurableHSK 7, nr, 11 strokes, radical 爻, rank #1316, Hard
爽shuǎnginvigoratingHSK 7, nr, 11 strokes, radical 爻, rank #1316, Hard
爽shuǎngto deviateHSK 7, nr, 11 strokes, radical 爻, rank #1316, Hard
爽shuǎngcrisp, refreshing; candid, frank; pleased, happyHSK 7, nr, 11 strokes, radical 爻, rank #1316, Hard
shuǎng(shuang3) T3
  1. 1bright
  2. 2clear
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
爽shuǎng(shuang3)

The character 爽 (shuǎng) conveys a sense of clarity and brightness, often used to describe feelings of pleasure or well-being. It can also imply straightforwardness in communication. This character is commonly encountered in contexts related to enjoyment, such as feeling refreshed after exercise or being frank in discussions.

Strokes11Radical爻Frequency#1316DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being '爽' is often associated with honesty and directness in social interactions, reflecting a cultural appreciation for openness. This trait is valued in communication, where being frank is seen as a positive quality.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bright, clear sky that makes you feel invigorated and happy—this is the essence of 爽 (shuǎng). The character combines the 'father' radical (父) with a component suggesting brightness, symbolizing a clear, open, and pleasant state of mind.

Meanings of 爽

shuǎng(shuang3)
1bright
2clear
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 爽

爽Simplified
11Strokes
爻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1316Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 爽

JasonAmy

Podcast: 爽

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AI Study Notes for 爽

Quick Contrast

清爽 (qīngshuǎng) - use 爽 when emphasizing pleasure or well-being, while 清爽 focuses on freshness or clarity in a more literal sense.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a bright, clear sky that makes you feel invigorated and happy—this is the essence of 爽 (shuǎng). The character combines the 'father' radical (父) with a component suggesting brightness, symbolizing a clear, open, and pleasant state of mind.

Usage Notes

Learners may confuse 爽 with similar-sounding words that have different tones, leading to misunderstandings. It is often used in informal settings to express pleasure, such as '我觉得爽' (I feel good). Pay attention to collocations like '爽快' (shuǎngkuài) meaning 'happy and straightforward' to enhance your vocabulary.

HSK Study Tips

Although 爽 is not officially part of HSK levels, it connects with HSK 3 and 4 vocabulary expressing feelings and descriptions. Students should focus on how to use it in everyday conversation, especially in contexts of personal feelings or descriptions.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being '爽' is often associated with honesty and directness in social interactions, reflecting a cultural appreciation for openness. This trait is valued in communication, where being frank is seen as a positive quality.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 爽 (shuǎng) with similar characters like 逝 (shì), leading to incorrect meanings. For example, saying '我觉得逝' instead of '我觉得爽' can completely change the intended message.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 爽

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Etymology of 爽

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

A person 大 breathing lots of fresh air 爻

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 爽?

Decomposition of 爽

IDS Structure⿻大⿰爻爻
爽Full Character
=
大da4
outer
爻yao2
left
爻yao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 爽?

Write 爽

爽

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

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Grammar Patterns of 爽

爽 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 12 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

大家都以为他会拒绝，不料他____快地答应了。

Everyone thought he would refuse, but unexpectedly he agreed readily.

Example Sentences for 爽 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
雾蒙蒙的寒冷空气使他脸上感觉很舒爽。

wù mēng mēng de hán lěng kōng qì shǐ tā liǎn shàng gǎn jué hěn shū shuǎng。

The cold, misty air felt wonderful on his face.
2
那个凉爽而晴朗的早晨让他异常兴奋。

nà gè liáng shuǎng ér qíng lǎng de zǎo chén ràng tā yì cháng xīng fèn。

He felt strangely exhilarated by the brisk, blue morning.
3
“我来就是让他们开心的，”他豪爽地说。

“ “ wǒ lái jiù shì ràng tā mén kāi xīn，” de ，” tā háo shuǎng。

"I'm here to make them feel good," he says expansively.
4
树下凉爽斑驳的光点

shù xià liáng shuǎng bān bó de guāng diǎn

the cool dappled light under the trees
5
这条多阴的小道凉爽而幽静.

zhè tiáo duō yīn de xiǎo dào liáng shuǎng ér yōu jìng.

This shadowy path is cool and quiet.
6
看这个天,多么晴爽干燥, 正象北方人那样 爽直 痛快.

kàn zhè gè tiān, , duō mó qíng shuǎng gān, zào , zhèng xiàng běi fāng rén nà yàng shuǎng.

Look at that clear crisp sky, just like the straightforward, easy - going people of the North.
7
他们很爽快的回答表明他们已经等待这个(要求)很久了.

tā mén hěn shuǎng kuài de huí dá biǎo míng tā mén yǐ jīng děng dài zhè gè( ( yào) qiú ) hěn.

Their ready answer suggested that they had long bided that.
8
秋天一到,天高气爽,生活就又重新开始了.

qiū tiān yī dào, , tiān gāo qì, shuǎng , shēng huó jiù yòu zhòng xīn kāi.

Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.
9
乔治·克鲁尼的清爽长相让他以40%的票数赢得了最帅绅士 称号.

qiáo zhì· · kè lǔ ní de qīng shuǎng cháng xiāng ràng tā40% yǐ 40% de piào shù yíng dé le zuì shuài shēn shì.

Your most dapper and distinguished - looking gentleman is George Clooney ( 40 % ).
10
空气凉爽了,但费利克斯仍然浑身出汗.

kōng qì liáng shuǎng le, , dàn fèi lì kè sī réng rán hún shēn chū.

The air became cooler but Feliks perspired all the same.

Cultural Notes for 爽

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, being '爽' is often associated with honesty and directness in social interactions, reflecting a cultural appreciation for openness. This trait is valued in communication, where being frank is seen as a positive quality.

Word Family of 爽

Compounds9
塽
傸
慡
摤
樉
漺
磢
鏯
騻
Words Containing This Character20
爽shuǎngbright
不爽not well
清爽relaxed
爽快shuǎngkuairefreshed
凉爽liángshuǎngcool and refreshing涼爽
爽朗candid
豪爽forthright
爽约to miss an appointment爽約
爽口fresh and tasty
直爽outspoken
屡试不爽well-tried屢試不爽
干爽dry and clean乾爽
爽身粉baby powder
秋高气爽clear and refreshing autumn weather秋高氣爽
英姿飒爽to carry oneself tall英姿颯爽
爽脆frank
爽直straightforward
爽气cool fresh air爽氣
爽利efficient
天高气爽clear and refreshing autumn weather天高氣爽
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 爽 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 爽

You can say, '今天的天气真爽' (Today's weather is really nice) to express enjoyment of a pleasant day.