瑟 meaning and stroke order
A large string instrument; to tremble, to vibrate
How to write 瑟, stroke by stroke
13 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 瑟
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- a type of standing harp, smaller than konghou 箜篌, with 5-25 strings
How 瑟 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Guitar strings.
玨 gives the meaning and 必 hints at the sound.
Radical: 王 (king), shared by 104 characters on this site.
How to remember 瑟
The top part 玨 looks like two rows of strings stretched side by side, and the bottom 必 (bì) gives the sound. Picture a player who must (必) pluck those strings to make the 瑟 (sè) sing.
瑟 (sè) is mostly seen in classical and literary Chinese, often paired with 琴 (qín) as a symbol of harmony, as in 琴瑟和鸣 (qín sè hé míng), "the qin and se play in harmony," meaning a happy marriage. In modern speech it also appears in the word 瑟瑟发抖 (sèsè fādǒu), "to shiver with cold or fear." Example: 他冷得瑟瑟发抖。(Tā lěng de sèsè fādǒu.) He was shivering from the cold.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 瑟 (sè) with 琴 (qín), since both have 玨 on top. Check the bottom: 瑟 has 必, while 琴 has 今.
Common words with 瑟
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 卢瑟 | lúsè | (loanword) loser |
瑟 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 瑟
How many strokes are in 瑟?
瑟 is written with 13 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 瑟 mean?
瑟 (sè) means a large string instrument; to tremble, to vibrate. A common word with it is 卢瑟 (lúsè), meaning "(loanword) loser".
How do you pronounce 瑟?
瑟 is pronounced sè, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 瑟?
The radical of 瑟 is 王, which carries the idea of "king". Dictionaries list 瑟 under this radical.
What does 瑟瑟 mean?
瑟瑟 (sèsè) describes trembling or shivering, and can also describe the rustling sound of wind. It is most common in the phrase 瑟瑟发抖 (sèsè fādǒu), to shiver.
Why is 卢瑟 used to mean loser?
卢瑟 (lúsè) is an internet loanword chosen because it sounds like the English word "loser." The characters are used for sound only, so the meaning has nothing to do with the instrument.