升 meaning and stroke order
To ascend; to rise; to promote; to elevate; liter
How to write 升, stroke by stroke
4 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Meaning of 升
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to ascend; to rise
- to promote; to elevate
- liter
- unit of dry measure for grain (= one liter or one-tenth dou 斗[dou3])
- to ascend; to rise (variant of 升[sheng1])
- to promote; to elevate (variant of 升[sheng1])
How 升 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 十 (ten), shared by 23 characters on this site.
How to remember 升
升 (shēng) contains 十 (shí, ten) running through it. Picture a measuring scoop with a long handle, lifted up full of grain, which links its two meanings: a unit of measure and to rise.
升 means to go up or raise, and it appears in many common words like 上升 (shàngshēng, to rise), 升级 (shēngjí, to upgrade) and 直升机 (zhíshēngjī, helicopter). It is also the unit for liters, as in 毫升 (háoshēng, milliliter). Example: 太阳升起来了。(Tàiyáng shēng qǐlái le.) The sun has risen.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 升 with 开 (kāi) or 井 (jǐng) because of the similar crossing strokes. In 升, the top left stroke is a short falling stroke and only one vertical stroke reaches below the horizontal lines.
Common words with 升
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 上升 | shàngshēng | to rise; to go up | HSK 3 |
| 毫升 | háoshēng | milliliter | HSK 4 |
| 升高 | shēnggāo | to raise; to ascend | HSK 5 |
| 直升机 | zhíshēngjī | helicopter | HSK 6 |
| 提升 | tíshēng | to promote (to a higher-ranking position); to lift; to hoist | HSK 6 |
| 升级 | shēngjí | to go up by one grade; to be promoted; to escalate (in intensity) | HSK 6 |
| 升值 | shēngzhí | to rise in value; to appreciate | HSK 6 |
| 升学 | shēngxué | to enter the next grade school | HSK 6 |
| 晋升 | jìnshēng | to promote to a higher position | HSK 7-9 |
| 攀升 | pānshēng | to clamber up; (of prices etc) to rise | HSK 7-9 |
| 升温 | shēngwēn | to become hot; temperature rise | HSK 7-9 |
| 回升 | huíshēng | to rise again after a fall; to pick up | HSK 7-9 |
| 飙升 | biāoshēng | to rise rapidly; to soar | HSK 7-9 |
| 升起 | shēngqǐ | to raise; to hoist |
升 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 升
Learning 升 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 升
How many strokes are in 升?
升 is written with 4 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 升 mean?
升 (shēng) means to ascend; to rise; to promote; to elevate; liter. A common word with it is 上升 (shàngshēng), meaning "to rise; to go up".
How do you pronounce 升?
升 is pronounced shēng, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 升?
The radical of 升 is 十, which carries the idea of "ten". Dictionaries list 升 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 升?
The traditional form of 升 is 昇 and 陞. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 升 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 升 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 升 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 升 and 生, since both are pronounced shēng?
They share the same sound and tone but have unrelated meanings. 升 means to rise or a liter, while 生 means to be born, life, or raw. You can only tell them apart in writing or from context.
How do you say liter in Chinese?
Liter is 升 (shēng), sometimes written 公升 (gōngshēng). For example, 两升水 (liǎng shēng shuǐ) means two liters of water, and a milliliter is 毫升 (háoshēng).