苏

囌/甦/蘇/蘓

sū

办 + 艹

Definitions

sū (verb) to revive; to come back to life

sū (noun) perilla; Chinese basil

Etymology

Simplified form of 蘇. Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 穌 represents the sound.

Semantic: 艹 Phonetic: 稣

About

The traditional character 蘇 is a phonosemantic compound: 艹 (grass) provides the meaning, and 穌 (yú, composed of 魚 'fish' and 禾 'grain') provides the sound. It originally referred to a fragrant herb like perilla, later gaining the meanings 'revive, awaken, or come back to life.' The simplified character 苏 retains 艹 but replaces 穌 with the phonetic 办. It is also the standard abbreviation for the Soviet Union and Jiangsu province.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我很喜欢苏州。

Wǒ hěn xǐhuān Sūzhōu.

I really like Suzhou.

江苏是个好地方。

Jiāngsū shì gè hǎo dìfāng.

Jiangsu is a good place.

苏州的园林很美丽。

Sūzhōu de yuánlín hěn měilì.

Suzhou's gardens are very beautiful.

我喜欢喝苏打水。

Wǒ xǐhuān hē sūdá shuǐ.

I like drinking soda water.

他从沉睡中苏醒。

Tā cóng chénshuì zhōng sūxǐng.

He woke up from a deep sleep.

苏轼是宋代著名诗人。

Sū Shì shì Sòng dài zhùmíng shīrén.

Su Shi is a famous poet of the Song dynasty.

苏联于一九九一年解体。

Sūlián yú yī jiǔ jiǔ yī nián jiětǐ.

The Soviet Union dissolved in 1991.

经过抢救，病人终于苏醒过来了。

Jīngguò qiǎngjiù, bìngrén zhōngyú sūxǐng guòlái le.

After rescue, the patient finally woke up.

Related Characters

Component: 办

Component: 艹

Example Words