素 meaning and stroke order
Raw silk; white; plain, unadorned
How to write 素, stroke by stroke
10 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
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
Meaning of 素
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- raw silk
- white
- plain, unadorned
- vegetarian (food)
- essence
- nature
How 素 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A silken thread 糸 hanging off a tree 龶.
Radical: 糸 (silk), shared by 27 characters on this site.
How to remember 素
Picture a plain silken thread 糸 hanging from a tree branch 龶. Undyed raw silk is white and simple, so 素 (sù) means plain, white, and by extension the basic essence of something.
素 appears in many words for basic components, such as 因素 (yīnsù) factor, 元素 (yuánsù) element, and 维生素 (wéishēngsù) vitamin. On its own it often means vegetarian or plain in style. Example: 我今天吃素。(Wǒ jīntiān chī sù.) I am eating vegetarian today.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 素 with 索 (suǒ, rope; to search), which has a similar silk bottom but a different top. Also keep the fourth tone in sù, not the third tone of suǒ.
Common words with 素
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 因素 | yīnsù | element; factor | HSK 6 |
| 元素 | yuánsù | element (key component of sth); (chemistry) element | HSK 6 |
| 维生素 | wéishēngsù | vitamin | HSK 6 |
| 要素 | yàosù | essential factor; key constituent | HSK 6 |
| 素质 | sùzhì | inner quality; basic essence | HSK 6 |
| 抗生素 | kàngshēngsù | antibiotic | HSK 7-9 |
| 素材 | sùcái | source material (in literature and art) | HSK 7-9 |
| 素描 | sùmiáo | sketch | HSK 7-9 |
| 激素 | jīsù | hormone | HSK 7-9 |
| 素食 | sùshí | vegetarian food; to eat a vegetarian diet | HSK 7-9 |
| 朴素 | pǔsù | plain and simple; unadorned | HSK 7-9 |
| 素养 | sùyǎng | (personal) accomplishment; attainment in self-cultivation | HSK 7-9 |
| 素不相识 | sùbùxiāngshí | to be total strangers (idiom) | HSK 7-9 |
| 毒素 | dúsù | toxin; (fig.) pernicious influence |
素 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 素
How many strokes are in 素?
素 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 素 mean?
素 (sù) means raw silk; white; plain, unadorned. A common word with it is 因素 (yīnsù), meaning "element; factor".
How do you pronounce 素?
素 is pronounced sù, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 素?
The radical of 素 is 糸, which carries the idea of "silk". Dictionaries list 素 under this radical.
Is 素 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 素 is part of the HSK 6 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
How do you say vegetarian food or a vegetarian in Chinese using 素?
Vegetarian dishes are 素菜 (sùcài), and eating vegetarian is 吃素 (chī sù). A vegetarian person is often called 素食者 (sùshízhě).
What does 素 mean when describing clothing or colors?
It means plain, light, or not flashy. For example, 她穿得很素 (tā chuān de hěn sù) means she dresses very plainly.