聳 meaning and stroke order
To excite, to urge; to raise; to shrug; lofty, towering
How to write 聳, stroke by stroke
17 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 聳
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to excite
- to raise up
- to shrug
- high
- lofty
- towering
How 聳 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Ear.
耳 gives the meaning and 從 hints at the sound.
Radical: 耳 (ear), shared by 34 characters on this site.
How to remember 聳
Picture someone following 從 (cóng) a sound with their ear 耳 (ěr), lifting their head and ears up high to listen. 從 gives the sound and 耳 gives the meaning, and that raised-up feeling links to "towering" and "to shrug."
聳 (simplified 耸) usually appears in words about height or raising something up, like 聳立 (sǒnglì, to tower) and 聳肩 (sǒngjiān, to shrug). Example: 高樓聳立在城市中心。(Gāolóu sǒnglì zài chéngshì zhōngxīn.) Tall buildings tower over the city center.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes read 聳 as cóng because of the 從 on top, but it is pronounced sǒng in the third tone. Also do not confuse it with 從 itself, which means "from" or "to follow."
Common words with 聳
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 聳立 | sǒnglì | to stand tall; to tower aloft | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 聳
How many strokes are in 聳?
聳 is written with 17 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 聳 mean?
聳 (sǒng) means to excite, to urge; to raise; to shrug; lofty, towering. A common word with it is 耸立 (sǒnglì), meaning "to stand tall; to tower aloft".
How do you pronounce 聳?
聳 is pronounced sǒng, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 聳?
The radical of 聳 is 耳, which carries the idea of "ear". Dictionaries list 聳 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 聳?
聳 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 耸, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What does 聳人聽聞 mean?
聳人聽聞 (sǒng rén tīng wén) describes news or claims that are sensational or meant to shock people. It reflects the older sense of 聳 as "to excite" or "to alarm."
How do you say "to shrug" in Chinese?
Say 聳肩 (sǒngjiān), literally "raise the shoulders." For example, 他聳了聳肩。(Tā sǒng le sǒng jiān.) means "He shrugged."