Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning

to bear; to stand; to endure; (passive marker); to receive

Chinese: 接受、遭受。

Hear the Four Tones

The same syllable “shou” becomes a different word in each tone. 受 is the 4th tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.

Stroke Order

Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.

Common Words

  • 接受jiē shòuto accept (a suggestion, punishment, bribe etc); to acquiesce
  • 受到shòu dàoto receive (praise, an education, punishment etc); to be ...ed (praised, educated, punished etc)
  • 难受nán shòuto feel unwell; to suffer pain; to be difficult to bear
  • 感受gǎn shòuto sense; perception; to feel (through the senses); to experience
  • 受伤shòu shāngto sustain injuries; wounded (in an accident etc); harmed

Example Sentence

他在比赛中受了伤。Tā zài bǐ sài zhōng shòu le shāng.He got injured in the match.

hezàiat比赛bǐ sàicompetition (sports etc)zhōngmiddleshòuto receivele(completed action)shāngto injure

Go deeper

Where this character comes from

A hand on top giving and a hand (又) below receiving, with 冖 (a thing) between: ‘to receive, accept; to bear, endure, suffer; to be subjected to’ (接受, 受到, 难受).

A way to remember it

One hand gives, one hand (又) takes — to receive, to bear.

Easy to confuse with

  • ài‘Love’: a similar hand-over-hand frame, but with 友 at the base.