How to Write 殊 (shū) — Meaning “special; different; very”

Think of a special (殊) red (朱) object that is so unusual it could be deadly (歹). This mnemonic links the meaning 'special' with the visual parts: 歹 for danger and 朱 for red.

Write the left radical 歹 first with four strokes: horizontal, left-falling, horizontal hook, then a small dot. The right part 朱 has six strokes starting with a left-falling stroke, and the whole character should be balanced with the left side slightly narrower than the right.

While 殊 means 'special' or 'different', 殁 and 殂 both mean 'to die' and are rarely used today. Visually, 殊 has 朱 on the right, 殁 has 殳, and 殂 has 且, making them easy to distinguish.

殊 appears in common words like 特殊 (special), 殊死 (desperate, life-and-death), and 殊荣 (special honor). It is often used in formal or written contexts, and 殊荣 is a positive term for a great honor in news or awards.

Common words containing 殊 include: 特殊 (tè shū) — Special / Unusual; 殊死 (shū sǐ) — desperate; life-and-death; 殊荣 (shū róng) — special honor; great glory.