Level 3 · Unit 2 City, Infrastructure & Tax

How to Write 税 (shuì)

Meaning: "Tax / Duty"
Step-by-Step Stroke Order Diagram
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Detailed Mastery Guide for 税

The character 税 (Traditional: 稅) is a fundamental part of the Chinese language, representing "Tax / Duty". In our Level 3 curriculum, we focus on the 12-step stroke sequence to ensure your handwriting is both fast and accurate.

Writing & Recognition

Proper stroke order is essential for character recognition and legibility. By following the animation above, you can see how the character is built from top to bottom and left to right. This character is often categorized under City, Infrastructure & Tax, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.

Key Vocabulary

税收 shuìshōu seoi3sau1
tax revenue
纳税 nàshuì naap6seoi3
to pay taxes

Radical Breakdown

Breaking it down: The character 税 is built on the radical 禾 (Grain), 115. Understanding radicals like this is a proven technique for accelerating vocabulary acquisition.

Etymology & Origins

Phono-semantic compound. 禾 (grain) indicates it was originally a tax paid in crops, and 兑 (tuì) provides the sound and implies the idea of exchange or weighing.

Example Sentence

Simplified: 每个人都应该依法纳税。

Měi gè rén dōu yīnggāi yīfǎ nàshuì.

Traditional: 每個人都應該依法納稅。

Mui5 go3 jan4 dou1 jing1goi1 ji1faat3 naap6seoi3.

"Everyone should pay taxes according to the law."

Dialect Pronunciation

In Mandarin, this character is pronounced as shuì. If you are learning Cantonese, the pronunciation is seoi3. Use the audio buttons to hear the subtle tonal differences between the two major Chinese dialects.

Practice & Retention

To move this character from short-term to long-term memory, we recommend using our free practice sheet generator. Writing the character 10-15 times while following the correct sequence is a proven method for mastery.

Quick Self-Check

What is the meaning of '税'?

A) Tax
B) Grain
C) Market
D) Money

Other Characters in Level 3 Unit 2

Hope this tool helps your Chinese learning journey!

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