锈 meaning and stroke order
To rust
How to write 锈, stroke by stroke
12 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 锈
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to rust
- variant of 鏽|锈[xiu4]
How 锈 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Metal.
钅 gives the meaning and 秀 hints at the sound.
Radical: 钅 (gold), shared by 223 characters on this site.
How to remember 锈
锈 combines the metal radical 钅 with 秀 (xiù), which gives the sound. Picture a piece of metal 钅 that has been left out so long it shows off a coat of rust.
锈 is most often heard in the word 生锈 (shēngxiù), meaning to get rusty, and it can also mean rust itself as a noun. 生锈 works figuratively for skills too. Example: 这把刀生锈了。(Zhè bǎ dāo shēngxiù le.) This knife has rusted.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes write 绣 (xiù, to embroider), which has the silk radical 纟 instead of the metal radical 钅. The two sound identical, so let the radical tell you whether you mean thread or metal.
Common words with 锈
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 生锈 | shēngxiù | (of metal) to rust; to become rusty; (fig.) (of a skill etc) to get rusty; to deteriorate |
锈 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 锈
How many strokes are in 锈?
锈 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 锈 mean?
锈 (xiù) means to rust. A common word with it is 生锈 (shēngxiù), meaning "(of metal) to rust; to become rusty; (fig.) (of a skill etc) to get rusty; to deteriorate".
How do you pronounce 锈?
锈 is pronounced xiù, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 锈?
The radical of 锈 is 钅, which carries the idea of "gold". Dictionaries list 锈 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 锈?
The traditional form of 锈 is 銹 and 鏽. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 锈 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 锈 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 锈 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do you say rust-proof or rust remover in Chinese?
Rust-proof is 防锈 (fángxiù), as in 防锈漆 (fángxiù qī), anti-rust paint. Rust remover is 除锈剂 (chúxiù jì).
Can 锈 be used on its own as a noun?
Yes. You can say 铁锈 (tiěxiù) for iron rust, or 上面有锈 (shàngmiàn yǒu xiù), there is rust on it. In everyday speech, though, 生锈 is the most common pattern.