How to Write 疏 (shū) — Meaning “Sparse; thin; to dredge; distant”

Imagine a foot (疋) stepping into a flowing stream (㐬) to dredge out mud and rocks, leaving the water clear and sparse of obstacles. This visual helps connect the character to its meanings of "dredge" and "sparse."

The left radical 疋 has a unique shape: start with a horizontal stroke, then a vertical, followed by two small horizontal strokes and a final downward stroke. The right side 㐬 must not be confused with 流's right part; it has a flat top and a curved bottom, and both sides should be balanced in size.

Both 疏 and 疑 share the radical 疋, but in 疏 it is on the left, while in 疑 it appears on the bottom right. The left side of 疑 combines 匕 (dagger) and 矢 (arrow), giving it a very different overall look and the meaning "doubt" instead of "sparse."

疏 appears in common words like 疏远 (to drift apart), 疏忽 (negligence), and 稀疏 (sparse). Culturally, it is often used in writing about relationships or natural phenomena, but be careful not to confuse it with 蔬 (vegetable), which has a grass radical on top.

Common words containing 疏 include: 疏远 (shū yuǎn) — To drift apart; to become estranged; 疏忽 (shū hū) — Negligence; oversight; to neglect; 稀疏 (xī shū) — sparse; thin.