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

The character 淑 combines the water radical 氵, indicating a connection to liquids, with the phonetic component 叔. Its original meaning described the clarity and purity of flowing water. This sense later evolved to represent human virtues, particularly goodness and gentleness. As an adjective, 淑 often describes refined, graceful qualities, especially in women, and is commonly used in given names to suggest a gentle and pure nature.

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