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March 24, 2026
锐(銳)ruì(rui4)
The character 锐 (ruì) means sharp or acute, often referring to the physical sharpness of objects like knives or blades. It can also describe a keen intellect or acute perception. In contexts, it can imply something that is incisive or penetrating, whether literally or metaphorically.
Strokes12Radical钅Frequency#19324DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, sharpness is often associated with clarity and effectiveness, especially in literature and strategy. The character is commonly used when discussing martial arts tools, emphasizing precision and skill.
Memory Tip
Imagine a sharp knife cutting through thick vegetables effortlessly. The radical 钅 (metal) suggests tools and sharpness, while the phonetic component 瑞 (ruì) can remind you of 'bright' or 'auspicious,' linking the sharpness of the knife to the clarity of thought it brings.
Meanings of 锐
ruì(rui4)
1acute
2sharp, pointed; keen, acute
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 锐
锐Simplified
銳Traditional
12Strokes
钅Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#19324Frequency Rank
Podcast: 锐
Podcast: 锐
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AI Study Notes for 锐
Quick Contrast
锋 (fēng) - use 锐 (ruì) when emphasizing the sharpness or acuity of an object or intellect, while 锋 (fēng) often refers specifically to the cutting edge or blade of a tool.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a sharp knife cutting through thick vegetables effortlessly. The radical 钅 (metal) suggests tools and sharpness, while the phonetic component 瑞 (ruì) can remind you of 'bright' or 'auspicious,' linking the sharpness of the knife to the clarity of thought it brings.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 锐 (ruì) with other characters that have similar pronunciations, such as 瑞 (ruì), which means auspicious. 锐 is more informal and often used in everyday conversations about tools, while in formal writing, more specific terms may be preferred.
HSK Study Tips
Although 锐 is not currently an HSK word, it connects well with HSK Level 5 vocabulary related to tools (刀 - dāo, knife) and descriptions (锋利 - fēnglì, sharp). Students should focus on using it in context and recognizing its nuances when describing things that are sharp or keen.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, sharpness is often associated with clarity and effectiveness, especially in literature and strategy. The character is commonly used when discussing martial arts tools, emphasizing precision and skill.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 锐 (ruì) with 瑞 (ruì) due to their similar sounds. For example, saying '这把刀很瑞' (This knife is very auspicious) is incorrect; the correct form is '这把刀很锐' (This knife is very sharp).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 锐
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Grammar Patterns of 锐
锐 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 2 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
“整本书你都读完了吗？”她目光敏____地问道。
"Have you read the whole book?" she asks, gimlet-eyed.
Example Sentences for 锐 (10)
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1
“整本书你都读完了吗？”她目光敏锐地问道。
“ “ zhěng běn shū nǐ dū dú wán le？” ma ？” tā mù guāng mǐn ruì dì。
"Have you read the whole book?" she asks, gimlet-eyed.
2
他因这番尖锐的批评而万念俱灰，茫然不知所措。
tā yīn zhè fān jiān ruì de pī píng ér wàn niàn jù huī， ， máng rán bù zhī suǒ。
He was shattered and bewildered by this trenchant criticism.
3
作为女性，我们通常在这些事情上谈得过多，过于敏锐。
zuò wéi nǚ xìng， ， wǒ mén tōng cháng zài zhè xiē shì qíng shàng tán dé guò， duō ， guò yú。
As women we generally say and feel too much about these things.
4
任何事情都逃不过我们老师那锐利的目光。
rèn hé shì qíng dū táo bù guò wǒ mén lǎo shī nà ruì lì de mù guāng。
Nothing escaped our teacher's eagle eye.
5
他是一位锐意进取、竞争意识很强的主管，颇受尊敬。
tā shì yī wèi ruì yì jìn qǔ、 、 jìng zhēng yì shí hěn qiáng de zhǔ， guǎn ， pō shòu。
He is respected as a very aggressive and competitive executive.
6
这是对她最尖锐的批评。
zhè shì duì tā zuì jiān ruì de pī píng。
This was the most biting criticism made against her.
Into her nineties, her thinking remained acute and her character forceful.
10
小于90度的角叫锐角.
xiǎo yú90 90 dù de jiǎo jiào ruì.
Angles of less than 90 degrees are called acute angles.
Cultural Notes for 锐
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, sharpness is often associated with clarity and effectiveness, especially in literature and strategy. The character is commonly used when discussing martial arts tools, emphasizing precision and skill.
Word Family of 锐
Words Containing This Character16
敏锐mǐnruìkeen敏銳
尖锐jiānruìsharp尖銳
锐ruìacute銳
锐利sharp銳利
精锐crack精銳
锐气dash銳氣
锐减steep decline銳減
养精蓄锐to preserve and nurture one's spirit (idiom); honing one's strength for the big push養精蓄銳
锐志firm determination銳志
锐意dauntless銳意
锐角acute angle銳角
新锐new and dashing新銳
锐不可当unstoppable銳不可當
尖锐化to intensify尖銳化
杨锐Yang Rui (1963-), host of "Dialogue" on CCTV News楊銳
锐敏acute銳敏
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 敏锐 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 锐
Some synonyms include 敏锐 (mǐnruì), which means keen or sharp in terms of perception, and 锋利 (fēnglì), specifically meaning sharp in reference to blades.
Yes, you can use 锐 to describe sharp or keen insights, such as in discussions about someone's perceptiveness or intelligence.
Yes, it is commonly used when referring to sharp objects, but may not appear frequently in formal settings.
