The character 素 — “plain”: how to write it and what it means
plain; element, basis
The Chinese character 素 is read sù and means “plain; element, basis”. Below: the stroke order step by step, what the character is made of and the words it appears in.
Stroke order: how to write 素
素 has 10 strokes. At each step the new stroke is highlighted — write them in the same order: top to bottom and left to right, horizontal before vertical, a frame before what is inside it, and the bottom stroke of the frame last.
To train your hand, print a handwriting sheet for 素, with strokes to trace and empty squares.
What 素 is made of
Below, 糸 “thread”: originally undyed silk. Hence “plain” and “basis”.
The parts of a character hint at its meaning or its reading — more in the article “Chinese character radicals”.
Words with 素
- 因素factorHSK 5
- 朴素simple, plain (unadorned)HSK 6
- 素质qualities (of a person), caliberHSK 6
- 元素element (chem.); motif (in design)HSK 6
- 要素key factor, elementHSK 6
- 维生素vitaminHSK 6
Frequently asked questions
How do you write the character 素?
素 has 10 strokes. They follow the usual rules: top to bottom, left to right, horizontal before vertical, outside before inside. The order of each stroke is shown on this page.
What does 素 mean?
素 means “plain; element, basis”. It appears in 因素 (“factor”), 朴素 (“simple”), 素质 (“qualities”), 元素 (“element”).
How do you pronounce 素?
素 is read sù. The tone is part of the reading: with another melody it becomes another syllable.
How many strokes does 素 have?
10 strokes.
More characters on the page “Chinese characters with meanings” and in the list of HSK characters by level; whole words are in the dictionary.
Write 素 yourself
In the lessons you write characters stroke by stroke with a finger or a mouse, and the course checks the order. You can start for free, no sign-up needed.
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