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PINYIN INITIAL S

Chinese characters starting with S

Explore 643 Chinese characters whose standard Pinyin begins with S. Open any character to hear its pronunciation, watch the stroke order, and create a printable practice sheet.

Examples in this index: 三 (sān), 上 (shàng), 商 (shāng), 少 (shǎo), 什 (shén), 生 (shēng).

PINYIN SYLLABLES

Pronunciations starting with S

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Choose a complete syllable to compare its tone-marked pronunciations, meanings, and Chinese characters.

sān3 strokesthreeshàng3 strokes(bound form) up; upper; above; previousshāng11 strokescommerceshǎo4 strokesfewshén4 strokesten (used in fractions, writing checks etc)shēng5 strokesto be bornshí2 strokestenshí7 strokeso'clockshí7 strokesto knowshì3 strokesmember of the senior ministerial class (old)shì5 strokesmarketshì8 strokesmattershì8 strokesold variant of 視|视[shi4]shì9 strokesto be (followed by substantives only)shī6 strokesteachershǒu4 strokeshandshū4 strokesbookshuí10 strokeswhoshuì13 strokesto sleepshuǐ4 strokeswatershuō9 strokesto speak; to talk; to say5 strokesfour5 strokesto take charge ofsuì6 strokesclassifier for years (of age)6 strokescolorshào8 strokesto continueshēn7 strokesbodyshì8 strokesto testshì9 strokesroomshǐ8 strokesto beginshū12 strokesto stretch9 strokesto thinksòng9 strokesto send; to deliver; to transmit7 strokesto complainsuī9 strokesalthoughsuǒ8 strokesactuallysài14 strokesto competesǎn6 strokesumbrellasǎo6 strokesto sweep (with a brush or broom)shā7 strokesgranuleshān3 strokesmountain; hill (CL:座[zuo4])shān8 strokesgarmentsháo3 strokesspoonshāo10 strokesto burnshēng7 strokessoundshí8 strokesrealshì5 strokeslifeshì9 strokesto fitshǐ5 strokeshistoryshòu8 strokesto receiveshòu14 strokesthinshōu6 strokesto receiveshù7 strokesto bindshù9 strokestreeshù13 strokesto countshū8 strokesuncleshuā8 strokesa brushshuāng4 strokestwosuàn14 strokesto regard assàn12 strokesscatteredsēn12 strokes(bound form) densely woodedshāng6 strokesto injureshāo12 strokessomewhatshè7 strokes(bound form) society; organization; agencyshè13 strokes(bound form) to take in; to absorb; to assimilateshèn9 strokesexcessive; undueshēn5 strokesto extendshēn11 strokesold variant of 深[shen1]shèng12 strokesto remainshěng9 strokesto save; to economize; to be frugalshí9 strokesto pick upshí9 strokesto eatshì4 strokesclan nameshì5 strokesto showshì6 strokestypeshì9 strokesold variant of 柿[shi4]shì12 strokesto explain使shǐ8 strokesto makeshī5 strokesto loseshòu11 strokesto sellshòu11 strokes(bound form) to confer; to giveshǒu9 strokesheadshú15 strokesripe; matureshù5 strokesmethodshǔ12 strokesheatshū13 strokesto lose; to be beatenshuài5 strokes(bound form) commander-in-chiefshùn9 strokesto obeyshuò11 strokeslarge6 strokesto diesōng8 strokesloosesòu14 strokes(bound form) to cough10 strokesfast13 strokesto model (a figure) in claysuān14 strokessoursuí11 strokesto followsūn6 strokesgrandson9 strokesto sprinkleshà12 strokestall buildingshǎ13 strokesfoolishshài10 strokes(of the sun) to shine onshàn10 strokesfanshàn12 strokesgood (virtuous)shàn16 strokeswithout authorityshān7 strokesto deleteshǎng12 strokesto bestow (a reward)shé11 strokessnakeshè6 strokesto set up; to put in placeshè8 strokes(bound form) residence; houseshén9 strokesgod; deityshèn13 strokescarefulshēn7 strokesto stretchshèng9 strokesvictoryshēng4 strokesto ascendshí5 strokesrockshì8 strokespowershì8 strokesdecorationshǐ8 strokes(of a vehicle, horse etc) to go fast; to speedshī8 strokespoemshī9 strokes(bound form) to put into effect (regulations etc)湿shī12 strokesmoistshǒu6 strokesto guardshù8 strokes(bound form) to state; to tell; to narrate; to relateshǔ12 strokescategoryshǔ13 strokes(bound form) rat; mouseshū10 strokesdifferentshū15 strokesvegetablesshuāi14 strokesto throw downshuì12 strokestaxes6 strokesto seem7 strokespersonalsōu12 strokesto search9 strokescustom8 strokesrespectful10 strokesraw silk宿11 strokeslodge for the nightsuì13 strokes(transitive or intransitive verb) to break into pieces; to shatter; to crumblesǔn10 strokesto decrease; to losesuǒ10 strokesto searchsuǒ12 strokesto lock; to lock upsuō14 strokesto withdraw15 strokesto let gosāi13 strokesSerbiasàng8 strokesmourningsǎng13 strokesthroatshā6 strokesto kill; to slay; to murder; to attackshā15 strokessharkshāi12 strokes(bound form) a sieveshǎn5 strokesto dodgeshàng8 strokesstillshé6 strokesused in 喇舌[la3 ji1] to transcribe the Taiwanese word for "tongue"shè10 strokesto shootshè10 strokes(literary) to wade across a body of watershěn8 strokesto examineshèng11 strokesto holdshēng12 strokes(bound form) sister's son; nephewshī9 strokes(bound form) lion寿shòu7 strokeslong lifeshù9 strokesto erectshù14 strokesto rinse one's mouth with watershǔ16 strokespotatoshuāi10 strokes(bound form) to decay; to decline; to waneshùn17 strokesto winksōu15 strokesclassifier for ships11 strokesBodhisattvasāng10 strokessurname Sangsǎo12 strokes(bound form) older brother's wife; sister-in-lawsāo12 strokes(bound form) to disturb; to disrupt10 strokesastringent11 strokesstingysēng14 strokes(bound form) Buddhist monk (abbr. for 僧伽[seng1 qie2])shā7 strokescotton yarnshàn16 strokesmealsshàn17 strokesto supportshān14 strokesto fan into a flameshang14 strokeslower garmentshào10 strokesa whistleshāo10 strokesto bring sth to sbshāo11 strokestip of branchshè13 strokesafraidshē11 strokesextravagantshèn8 strokeskidneyshèn11 strokesto seepshēn8 strokes(literary) to recite; to chant; to intoneshēn8 strokesmember of gentryshéng11 strokesropeshèng5 strokes(bound form) peerless (in wisdom, moral virtue, skill etc)shēng9 strokesdomestic animalshí9 strokesto nibble away at sthshì8 strokesto serveshì10 strokes(of flowing water or time) to pass byshì13 strokesaddicted toshì14 strokesoathshǐ5 strokesarrowshǐ9 strokesfeces; excrement; a stoolshī3 strokes(literary) person representing the deceased (during burial ceremonies)shòu11 strokesbeastshú12 strokesto redeemshù10 strokesto forgiveshù14 strokesvillashǔ13 strokesofficeshǔ17 strokes(bound form) daybreak; dawnshū7 strokesto expressshū8 strokes(bound form) hinge; pivot (usu. fig.)shū11 strokesto combshū12 strokesto dredgeshuǎ9 strokesto play withshuǎi5 strokesto throwshuàn11 strokesto rinseshuān9 strokesto tie upshuǎng11 strokesbrightshuāng17 strokesfrostshuò9 strokesbright6 strokesBuddhist temple7 strokesto watch7 strokesto sacrifice8 strokesto raise13 strokesfour (banker's anti-fraud numeral)5 strokessilk15 strokesto tearsòng6 strokeslitigationsòng9 strokesto read aloudsòng10 strokesodesǒng8 strokesused in 慫恿|怂恿[song3yong3]sǒng10 strokesto excite13 strokesto go upstream7 strokessurname Su12 strokesflaky pastrysuàn13 strokesgarlicsuì14 strokestunnelsuì17 strokesdeepsuǐ21 strokes(bound form) bone marrow; (fig.) innermost partsuǒ11 strokesfragmentarysuō10 strokesto sucksuō11 strokes(textiles) shuttlesuō13 strokesto suck4 strokesthirty9 strokessound of wind10 strokesChinese character13 strokesChinese character14 strokesChinese character17 strokesChinese character22 strokesChinese character5 strokesthree (colloquial equivalent of 三個|三个)11 strokesfeelsài17 strokesChinese charactersāi13 strokescheeksāi16 strokesused in transliterationsāi17 strokesgills of fishsāi20 strokesChinese charactersǎn12 strokesChinese charactersǎn15 strokesused in 饊子|馓子[san3 zi5]sǎn20 strokesChinese charactersān8 strokesthree (banker's anti-fraud numeral)sān12 strokeslong-hairedsǎng13 strokesto push forcefullysǎng15 strokesstone plinthsǎng16 strokes(literary) foreheadsǎng19 strokesChinese charactersāng12 strokesChinese charactersào11 strokesdikesào14 strokesitchsào17 strokesshamesǎo11 strokesChinese charactersāo12 strokesto scratchsāo14 strokesto reel silk from cocoonssāo17 strokesChinese charactersāo19 strokesChinese character11 strokescesium (chemistry)13 strokesChinese character13 strokesa type of standing harp, smaller than konghou 箜篌, with 5-25 strings14 strokesarchaic variant of 澀|涩[se4]16 strokesgather in harvest17 strokesChinese character18 strokesChinese charactershá11 strokesdialectal equivalent of 什麼|什么[shen2 me5]shà11 strokesto speak evilshà13 strokesChinese charactershà13 strokesto drinkshà13 strokesto terminateshà16 strokesall of a suddenshā9 strokessandshā10 strokesChinese charactershā10 strokesChinese charactershā10 strokeskatydid (family Tettigoniidae)shā11 strokesspearshā12 strokescholerashā13 strokesused in 袈裟[jia1 sha1]shā18 strokesChinese charactershā18 strokesChinese charactershài23 strokesChinese charactershāi14 strokes(literary) to filter (wine)shāi16 strokesChinese charactershàn5 strokesto mockshàn6 strokesbamboo fish trapshàn8 strokesherniashàn10 strokesChinese charactershàn10 strokesto jumpshàn13 strokesto geldshàn14 strokesname of a district in Xinjiangshàn15 strokesto repairshàn16 strokes(literary) to go through successive changes; to evolveshàn16 strokesChinese charactershàn18 strokesChinese charactershàn18 strokesChinese charactershàn20 strokesChinese charactershàn20 strokesChinese yellow eelshàn23 strokesChinese charactershǎn8 strokesabbr. for Shaanxi 陝西|陕西 provinceshǎn9 strokesChinese charactershǎn10 strokesChinese charactershān3 strokes"bristle" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 59)shān7 strokesChinese charactershān7 strokesChina firshān7 strokesto cut downshān8 strokesto deprecateshān8 strokesstraw matshān8 strokesto cut with a sickleshān9 strokesto mix water with clayshān9 strokesChinese charactershān9 strokesfenceshān9 strokescoralshān9 strokessampanshān12 strokesused in 蹣跚|蹒跚[pan2shan1]shān15 strokestearfullyshān17 strokesa flock of sheep (or goats)shān18 strokesChinese charactershàng2 strokesold variant of 上[shang4]shàng8 strokesyetshàng11 strokesto sole a shoeshǎng9 strokesunit of land area (equivalent to 10 or 15 mǔ 畝|亩[mu3] in parts of northeast China, but only 3 or 5 mǔ in northwest China)shǎng10 strokespart of the dayshǎng15 strokesChinese charactershāng9 strokesto die in childhoodshāng12 strokesfeastshāng13 strokesChinese charactershāng14 strokesplowed earthshāng15 strokesChinese charactershāng15 strokesentropy (character created in 1923)shāng18 strokesChinese charactersháo6 strokesChinese peonysháo7 strokes(literary) handle of a spoon or ladlesháo14 strokes(music)shào7 strokessurname Shaoshào7 strokessurname Shaoshào11 strokesChinese charactershào15 strokesdriving rainshāo13 strokespot-scrubbing brush made of bamboo stripsshāo13 strokesstern of boatshāo13 strokeslong-legged spidershāo16 strokesChinese charactershé7 strokessurname Sheshè6 strokessurname Sheshè11 strokesChinese charactershè11 strokesto pardon (a convict)shè13 strokesname of a rivershè14 strokesChinese charactershè21 strokesChinese charactershè21 strokesChinese charactershè21 strokesmusk deer (Moschus moschiferus)shě11 strokesChinese charactershē11 strokesused in 猞猁[she1li4]shē11 strokesto buy or sell on creditshē12 strokesChinese charactershē12 strokesShe ethnic groupshē14 strokesChinese charactershèn9 strokesarsineshèn12 strokesChinese charactershèn12 strokesfruit of mulberryshèn13 strokesChinese charactershèn13 strokesgiant clamshèn14 strokesChinese charactershěn7 strokessurname Shenshěn9 strokes(literary) to smileshěn9 strokes(interrog.)shěn10 strokesto knowshěn11 strokeswife of father's younger brothershěn11 strokesold variant of 瀋|沈[shen3]shěn15 strokesChinese charactershěn18 strokesChinese charactershěn18 strokesChinese charactershēn6 strokes(literary) two mountains standing next to each othershēn8 strokesChinese charactershēn8 strokesto informshēn10 strokespregnantshēn10 strokesarsenic (chemistry)shēn10 strokesAsarumshēn11 strokesChinese charactershēn12 strokesto advanceshēn14 strokesto mix (of powders)shéng19 strokesChinese charactershèng10 strokesbrightness of sunshèng12 strokesChinese charactershèng13 strokesname of a district in Zhejiangshèng13 strokesChinese charactershěng10 strokescataract of the eyeshēng8 strokes(used as a surname and in given names)shēng9 strokesChinese charactershēng11 strokessheng, a free reed wind instrument with vertical bamboo pipesshēng17 strokesChinese charactershí3 strokes"to eat" or "food" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 184)shí8 strokesChinese charactershí9 strokesstonewareshí10 strokeshen roostshí10 strokesChinese charactershí14 strokesChinese charactershí14 strokesChinese charactershí15 strokesshadshí19 strokesChinese charactershí21 strokesChinese charactershì4 strokesChinese charactershì5 strokesto serve as an officialshì9 strokes(bound form) to rely onshì9 strokesto wipeshì9 strokesto borrowshì10 strokesto lickshì10 strokes(literary) to growshì10 strokes(literary) handrail at the front of a carriage or chariot; to bow while leaning on this handrail as a gesture of respectshì10 strokescerium (chemistry)shì11 strokesChinese charactershì12 strokesto murder a superiorshì12 strokesposthumous name or titleshì13 strokesChinese charactershì13 strokesChinese charactershì13 strokesdivine by stalkshì13 strokesChinese charactershì13 strokesChinese charactershì13 strokesChinese charactershì14 strokesChinese charactershì14 strokesChinese charactershì15 strokes(literary) majestic; magnificentshì16 strokesto devourshì16 strokesChinese charactershì17 strokes(of a bee or spider etc) to sting or biteshì17 strokesChinese charactershì20 strokesused in 襏襫|袯襫[bo2shi4]shì20 strokesChinese charactershǐ7 strokeshogshǐ15 strokesChinese charactershī8 strokeslouseshī9 strokesChinese charactershī9 strokesShi, name of river in Xinyang 信陽|信阳, Henanshī10 strokesChinese charactershī13 strokesChinese charactershī13 strokesyarrow (Achillea millefolium)shī13 strokesChinese charactershī15 strokesChinese charactershī16 strokesChinese charactershī17 strokesChinese charactershòu9 strokesto huntshòu11 strokescord on a sealshòu14 strokesChinese charactershòu14 strokesChinese charactershòu19 strokesChinese charactershǒu3 strokes"hand" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 64), occurring in 提, 把, 打 etcshǒu15 strokesbow of a shipshú10 strokesbroomcorn millet (Panicum spp.)shú11 strokeswhoshú14 strokesprivate schoolshú22 strokesChinese charactershù6 strokesgarrisonshù8 strokesriver in Shandongshù11 strokes(bound form) ordinary; numerousshù11 strokesChinese charactershù12 strokesstanding upshù13 strokesinsertion point in acupunctureshù15 strokesChinese charactershù15 strokesmoistureshù15 strokesChinese charactershù16 strokesChinese charactershǔ12 strokesbroomcorn milletshǔ13 strokesshort name for Sichuan 四川[Si4 chuan1] provinceshǔ19 strokesused in 麻糬[ma2shu3]shǔ21 strokesChinese charactershū4 strokesbamboo or wooden spearshū6 strokesarchaic variant of 菽[shu1]shū7 strokesabundantshū9 strokespretty womanshū10 strokessuddenshū10 strokesChinese charactershū10 strokesChinese charactershū11 strokes(bound form) (of women) gentle; kind; lovely; admirableshū11 strokeslegumes (peas and beans)shū13 strokesset forthshū13 strokesrugshū15 strokesChinese charactershū16 strokesChinese charactershū17 strokesold variant of 鍬|锹[qiao1]shuā11 strokes(onom.) swishingshuài9 strokesChinese charactershuài17 strokesused in 蟋蟀[xi1 shuai4]shuān4 strokesboltshuān9 strokesChinese charactershuān10 strokesbottle stoppershuāng18 strokesChinese charactershuāng20 strokeswidowshuāng20 strokesused in 驌驦|骕骦[su4 shuang1]shuāng22 strokesused in 鷫鸘|鹔鹴[su4 shuang1]shuāng27 strokesChinese charactershuāng28 strokesChinese charactershuí15 strokesChinese charactershuì12 strokesChinese charactershuǐ3 strokes"water" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 85), occurring in 沒|没[mei2], 法[fa3], 流[liu2] etcshuǐ5 strokesarchaic variant of 水[shui3]shùn12 strokesShun (c. 23rd century BC), mythical sage and leadershùn12 strokesChinese charactershǔn7 strokesto suckshuò6 strokessurname Suoshuò10 strokesbeginningshuò10 strokesbrightshuò11 strokesto suckshuò13 strokesdaubshuò13 strokespodshuò14 strokeslong lanceshuò14 strokesChinese charactershuò19 strokesChinese charactershuò23 strokesChinese charactershuō14 strokesChinese character3 strokes6th earthly branch: 9-11 a.m., 4th solar month (5th May-5th June), year of the Snake6 strokesstream which returns after branching7 strokesanimal cited in ancient texts, resembling a buffalo (some say rhinoceros or female rhinoceros)7 strokeswife or senior concubine of husbands older brother (old)8 strokesriver in Shandong8 strokesteam of 4 horses9 strokesused in 万俟[Mo4 qi2]11 strokessquare bamboo container for food or clothing11 strokesplow13 strokessuccession (to a title)13 strokesChinese character15 strokesChinese character2 strokesold variant of 某[mou3]3 strokes"silk" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 120), occurring in 紅|红[hong2], 綠|绿[lu:4], 累[lei4] etc6 strokesChinese character8 strokes(onom.) to hiss10 strokesamphibious animal with one horn10 strokesheron12 strokesSlovakia12 strokesChinese character12 strokesfine linen12 strokessnail14 strokes(bound form) together; each other14 strokesstrontium (chemistry)15 strokeshiss15 strokesChinese character15 strokesdrain dry16 strokesChinese charactersòng7 strokessurname Songsòng11 strokesChinese charactersòng13 strokesChinese charactersòng14 strokesChinese charactersǒng10 strokesfrightenedsǒng12 strokesrespectfulsǒng15 strokesChinese charactersǒng17 strokesChinese charactersōng7 strokesrestlesssōng10 strokesiciclesōng11 strokesChinese charactersōng11 strokesname of a river in Jiangsu Provincesōng11 strokes(cabbage)sōng13 strokesMt Song in Henansōng18 strokesChinese charactersòu18 strokesChinese charactersǒu9 strokesold gentlemansǒu14 strokesto urge onsǒu14 strokesblindsǒu16 strokes(dialect) to stoke the embers (to revive a fire)sǒu16 strokesmarshsǒu19 strokesChinese charactersōu11 strokesChinese charactersōu12 strokes(onom.) whooshingsōu12 strokesto urinatesōu12 strokesrancidsōu13 strokesto blow (as of wind)sōu14 strokes(literary) madder (Rubia cordifolia)sōu14 strokesto engrave (metal of wood)sōu15 strokesused in 蠼螋[qu2sou1]餿sōu17 strokesChinese charactersōu18 strokesChinese character6 strokesmorning10 strokesname of a river11 strokesused in 驌驦|骕骦[su4 shuang1]12 strokesmillet12 strokesChinese character12 strokescomposed13 strokesthe crop of a bird13 strokesguileless13 strokesChinese character13 strokesused in 鷫鸘|鹔鹴[su4 shuang1]14 strokesLisu ethnic group of Yunnan14 strokessurname Su14 strokesused in 觳觫[hu2 su4]17 strokesdense vegetation23 strokesChinese character24 strokesChinese character12 strokesChinese character13 strokesarchaic variant of 蘇|苏[su1]13 strokesused in 窸窣[xi1su1]16 strokesChinese character20 strokesChinese character23 strokesChinese charactersuàn10 strokesChinese charactersuān10 strokes(mythical animal)suí10 strokesto pacifysuí11 strokesthe Sui dynasty (581-617 AD)suí12 strokesChinese charactersuí13 strokesChinese charactersuí14 strokesChinese charactersuì10 strokesevil spiritsuì10 strokesabusesuì12 strokesto satisfysuì13 strokesChinese charactersuì16 strokes(bound form) material or tool used to light a fire by means of friction or the sun's rayssuì17 strokesear of grainsuī3 strokesChinese charactersuī10 strokesChinese charactersuī10 strokesChinese charactersuī10 strokescoriandersuī11 strokessurname Suisuī13 strokessurname Suisuī16 strokesname of a riversuī17 strokesChinese charactersǔn10 strokesbamboo shootsǔn10 strokesfalconsǔn12 strokesChinese charactersǔn13 strokesChinese charactersǔn14 strokes(cabinetmaking) tenonsūn9 strokesused in 猢猻|猢狲[hu2sun1]sūn9 strokesfragrant grasssūn10 strokesChinese charactersūn12 strokes(literary) suppersūn13 strokesChinese charactersuǒ10 strokesused in 嗩吶|唢呐[suo3 na4]suǒ12 strokesChinese charactersuǒ13 strokesChinese charactersuǒ14 strokesChinese charactersuǒ18 strokesChinese charactersuō10 strokes(phonetic)suō11 strokeshorse chestnutsuō12 strokesto throw a glance at; to peer atsuō13 strokesto sucksuō13 strokescarboxyl radical (chemistry)suō13 strokesrain coat made of straw etcsuō17 strokesChinese character

How this Pinyin list works

Characters are grouped by the first letter of their standard Pinyin spelling. Tone marks do not change the initial, so every pronunciation beginning with S appears together on this page.

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