HSK 4, a, 15 strokes, radical 灬, rank #2621, Medium
熟
shóu
ripe (of fruit)
HSK 4, a, 15 strokes, radical 灬, rank #2621, Medium
熟
shóu
mature (of seeds)
HSK 4, a, 15 strokes, radical 灬, rank #2621, Medium
熟
shóu
familiar
HSK 4, a, 15 strokes, radical 灬, rank #2621, Medium
熟
shóu
skilled
HSK 4, a, 15 strokes, radical 灬, rank #2621, Medium
熟
shóu
done
HSK 4, a, 15 strokes, radical 灬, rank #2621, Medium
熟
shóu
also pr. [shóu]
HSK 4, a, 15 strokes, radical 灬, rank #2621, Medium
熟
shóu
well-cooked; ripe, mature; familiar with
HSK 4, a, 15 strokes, radical 灬, rank #2621, Medium
熟
shóu
also pr. [shou2]
HSK 4, unknown, 15 strokes, radical 灬, rank #2621, Medium
shóu(shu2) T2
1cooked (of food)
2ripe (of fruit)
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March 24, 2026
熟shóu(shu2)
The character 熟 (shú) primarily means 'cooked' or 'ripe' in relation to food and fruit. It can also denote a state of being familiar or skilled in a particular area. Commonly used in culinary contexts or when discussing proficiency, it conveys a sense of completion or readiness.
Strokes15Radical灬Frequency#2621DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, the concept of 熟 is essential, as food safety and proper cooking techniques are deeply ingrained in culinary traditions. The phrase '熟能生巧' (shú néng shēng qiǎo) translates to 'practice makes perfect,' emphasizing the importance of becoming skilled through familiarity.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chef holding a perfectly cooked dish, proudly saying 'Shú!' The character has the radical for fire (火), symbolizing cooking, and its sound resembles 'shoe'—think of a well-worn shoe that is familiar and comfortable, just like a skilled chef with their recipes.
Meanings of 熟
shóu(shu2)
1cooked (of food)
2ripe (of fruit)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 熟
熟Simplified
15Strokes
灬Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#2621Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 熟
Podcast: 熟
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AI Study Notes for 熟
Quick Contrast
熟 (shú) vs 透 (tòu) — choose 熟 when referring to food being properly cooked or ripe, while 透 indicates transparency or thoroughness in understanding.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a chef holding a perfectly cooked dish, proudly saying 'Shú!' The character has the radical for fire (火), symbolizing cooking, and its sound resembles 'shoe'—think of a well-worn shoe that is familiar and comfortable, just like a skilled chef with their recipes.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 熟 (shú) with 生 (shēng), which means 'raw' or 'unripe.' This character is more commonly used in informal contexts, especially when discussing food or skills, but can also appear in more formal discussions about expertise. Remember that 熟 can also be pronounced as [shóu] in certain contexts, adding to potential confusion.
HSK Study Tips
熟 (shú) is useful for HSK Level 3 learners, connecting with other words related to food and proficiency, such as 了解 (liǎojiě, to understand) and 熟悉 (shúxī, to be familiar with). Focus on practicing its different meanings and pronunciations in various contexts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, the concept of 熟 is essential, as food safety and proper cooking techniques are deeply ingrained in culinary traditions. The phrase '熟能生巧' (shú néng shēng qiǎo) translates to 'practice makes perfect,' emphasizing the importance of becoming skilled through familiarity.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 熟 (shú) with similar-looking characters, such as 煮 (zhǔ), which means 'to boil.' An example mistake could be using 煮 when referring to a well-cooked meal instead of 熟. Always remember that 熟 specifically refers to the state of being cooked or familiar.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 熟
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Grammar Patterns of 熟
熟 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 9 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
The direct marketing industry has become adept at packaging special offers.
10
安妮认为梅维斯是个厚颜无耻的骗子，这显然是经过一番深思熟虑后才得出的看法。
ān nī rèn wéi méi wéi sī shì gè hòu yán wú chǐ de piàn zǐ， ， zhè xiǎn rán shì jīng guò yī fān shēn sī shú lǜ hòu cái dé chū de kàn。
Obviously it was Anne's considered opinion that Mavis was a bold-faced liar.
Cultural Notes for 熟
💡Did you know?
In Chinese cuisine, the term '熟' is crucial as it defines how food is prepared. For instance, '熟食' (shú shí) refers to cooked food, highlighting the importance of food safety and flavor in Chinese culture.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese cuisine, the concept of 熟 is essential, as food safety and proper cooking techniques are deeply ingrained in culinary traditions. The phrase '熟能生巧' (shú néng shēng qiǎo) translates to 'practice makes perfect,' emphasizing the importance of becoming skilled through familiarity.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
The concept of ripeness is significant in many cultures, but in China, fruits like pears and peaches are often judged by their texture and firmness to determine if they are '熟'. This contrasts with Western preferences which may focus more on color.
Word Family of 熟
Words Containing This Character20
成熟chéngshúmature
熟悉shúxito know well
熟shóufamiliar
熟人shúrénfriend
熟练shúliànpracticed熟練
眼熟familiar-looking
熟知to be well acquainted with
熟睡asleep
耳熟to sound familiar
深思熟虑mature reflection深思熟慮
熟食cooked food
早熟precocious
娴熟adept嫻熟
面熟to look familiar
熟识to know well熟識
耳熟能详ěrshúnéngxiángwhat's frequently heard can be repeated in detail (idiom)耳熟能詳
熟透ripened
驾轻就熟lit. an easy drive on a familiar path (idiom); fig. experience makes progress easy駕輕就熟
熟视无睹to ignore熟視無睹
常熟Changshu county level city in Suzhou 蘇州|苏州[Sūzhōu], Jiangsu
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 成熟 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 熟
Yes, 熟 can be used to describe people who are skilled or proficient in a particular area. For example, saying '他对这个项目很熟' (Tā duì zhège xiàngmù hěn shú) means 'He is very familiar with this project.' This usage emphasizes the person's expertise.
熟 (shú) means 'cooked' or 'ripe,' while 生 (shēng) means 'raw' or 'unripe.' These terms are often used in cooking and food contexts to indicate the state of food, as well as in discussions about maturity or proficiency. Understanding the difference helps in making appropriate choices in various contexts.
熟 (shú) primarily means 'cooked' when referring to food, indicating that something has been prepared and is safe to eat. It can also describe fruit that is ripe, seeds that are mature, or a person who is skilled or familiar with something. The character reflects a state of readiness or completeness.
You can use 熟 in sentences to describe the doneness of food, like '这道菜熟了' (Zhè dào cài shú le), meaning 'This dish is cooked.' Additionally, it can denote familiarity, such as '我对这个地方很熟' (Wǒ duì zhège dìfāng hěn shú), meaning 'I am very familiar with this place.'
熟 means cooked or ripe, while 生 means raw or unripe. They are opposites in the context of food.
Yes, 熟 can describe someone who is familiar or skilled in a particular area, such as 熟悉 (shúxī) meaning 'to be familiar with'.
It can be pronounced as 'shú' or 'shóu', depending on the context. Most commonly, it is 'shú'.
