受 meaning and stroke order
To receive; to accept; to suffer
How to write 受, stroke by stroke
8 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
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- 8
Meaning of 受
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to receive
- to accept
- to suffer
- subjected to
- to bear
- to stand
How 受 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Something 冖 passed from one hand 爫 to another 又.
Radical: 又 (and), shared by 21 characters on this site.
How to remember 受
Picture a hand reaching down from the top 爫, passing an object 冖 to another hand 又 waiting below. The lower hand receives it, so 受 (shòu) means to receive or to accept.
受 often appears in words about receiving something, good or bad, like 接受 (jiēshòu, to accept), 享受 (xiǎngshòu, to enjoy) and 受伤 (shòushāng, to get hurt). It also marks something done to you, similar to a passive. Example: 他受到了老师的表扬。(Tā shòudào le lǎoshī de biǎoyáng.) He was praised by the teacher.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 受 (shòu, to receive) with 授 (shòu, to give or teach), which adds the hand radical 扌 on the left, as in 教授 (jiàoshòu, professor). Also do not mix it up with 爱 (ài), which has 友-like strokes at the bottom instead of a plain 又.
Common words with 受
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 接受 | jiēshòu | to accept (a suggestion, punishment, bribe etc); to acquiesce | HSK 2 |
| 受到 | shòudào | to receive (praise, an education, punishment etc); to be ...ed (praised, educated, punishe | HSK 2 |
| 难受 | nánshòu | to feel unwell; to suffer pain | HSK 2 |
| 受伤 | shòushāng | to sustain injuries; wounded (in an accident etc) | HSK 3 |
| 感受 | gǎnshòu | to sense; perception | HSK 3 |
| 受不了 | shòubuliǎo | unbearable; unable to endure | HSK 4 |
| 承受 | chéngshòu | to bear; to support | HSK 4 |
| 享受 | xiǎngshòu | to enjoy; to live it up | HSK 5 |
| 忍受 | rěnshòu | to bear; to endure | HSK 5 |
| 受灾 | shòuzāi | disaster-stricken; to be hit by a natural calamity | HSK 5 |
| 遭受 | zāoshòu | to suffer; to sustain (loss, misfortune) | HSK 6 |
| 受害人 | shòuhàirén | victim | HSK 7-9 |
| 受过 | shòuguò | to take the blame (for sb else) | HSK 7-9 |
| 受苦 | shòukǔ | to suffer hardship | HSK 7-9 |
受 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 受
Learning 受 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 受
How many strokes are in 受?
受 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 受 mean?
受 (shòu) means to receive; to accept; to suffer. A common word with it is 接受 (jiēshòu), meaning "to accept (a suggestion, punishment, bribe etc); to acquiesce".
How do you pronounce 受?
受 is pronounced shòu, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 受?
The radical of 受 is 又, which carries the idea of "and". Dictionaries list 受 under this radical.
Is 受 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 受 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What does 受不了 mean and how do I use it?
受不了 (shòubuliǎo) means you cannot stand or endure something. It is very common in speech, for example 这么热，我受不了了。(Zhème rè, wǒ shòubuliǎo le.) It is so hot, I cannot stand it.
What is the difference between 难受 and 难过?
难受 (nánshòu) usually describes physical discomfort or a heavy, uneasy feeling, like feeling sick. 难过 (nánguò) leans more toward emotional sadness, such as feeling sad after bad news.