淑

shū

叔 + 氵

Definitions

shū (bound form) (of women) gentle; kind; lovely; admirable; (used in given names); Taiwan pr. [shú]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 叔 represents the sound.

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 叔

About

淑 is a phonosemantic compound combining 氵 (water) on the left, which gives the meaning, and 叔 (shū) on the right, which provides the sound. It originally denoted the clear, pure quality of a river or stream. Over time, its meaning shifted from describing clear water to abstract human virtues: goodness, kindness, and gentleness. Now it characterizes refined, virtuous, and graceful qualities, especially in women, and is often used in given names to express gentleness and purity.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她的性格很贤淑。

Tā de xìnggé hěn xiánshū.

Her personality is very virtuous and kind.

淑女应该举止优雅。

Shūnǚ yīnggāi jǔzhǐ yōuyǎ.

A lady should behave elegantly.

妈妈教导我要淑静。

Māma jiàodǎo wǒ yào shūjìng.

Mom teaches me to be gentle and quiet.

这位女士淑德兼备。

Zhè wèi nǚshì shūdé jiān bèi.

This lady possesses both virtue and moral character.

她的淑气让人感到舒适。

Tā de shūqì ràng rén gǎndào shūshì.

Her gentle demeanor makes people feel comfortable.

在传统观念中，贤淑是女性的美德。

Zài chuántǒng guānniàn zhōng, xiánshū shì nǚxìng de měidé.

In traditional views, virtue and kindness are female virtues.

她以淑雅的姿态赢得了大家的尊重。

Tā yǐ shūyǎ de zītài yíngdé le dàjiā de zūnzhòng.

She won everyone's respect with her graceful and virtuous demeanor.

培养淑女风范需要从小教育。

Péiyǎng shūnǚ fēngfàn xūyào cóng xiǎo jiàoyù.

Cultivating a lady's demeanor requires education from childhood.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 叔

Component: 氵

淑