How to Write 舜 (shùn) — Meaning “Shun (a legendary Chinese monarch)”

Imagine the top part 舛 as two feet walking in opposite directions through the evening (夕) to reach the wise ruler Shun. This picture helps you recall that 舜 is the name of a legendary king who was known for his just travels among the people. The unusual combination of 'opposite feet' and 'evening' makes the character stand out.

Write the top component 舛 first, starting with the left side then the right, keeping the two halves balanced and not too wide. Then write the bottom part 夕 (three strokes: slash, horizontal hook, dot) centered below. A common mistake is to misplace the final dot or add an extra stroke, so follow the 12-stroke count carefully.

Both characters share the top component 舛, but 舜 has a simpler bottom consisting of 夕 and a dot, while 舞 has a larger, more complex bottom with multiple strokes and often includes a 田-like shape. In meaning, 舜 is a proper name for a legendary monarch (Shun), whereas 舞 means 'to dance.' Visually, 舞 appears more crowded and has more strokes.

舜 is rarely used alone in daily life; it appears mainly in historical or cultural phrases such as 尧舜 (Yao and Shun) to refer to ancient sage kings. It is also seen in 舜帝 (Emperor Shun) and 虞舜 (another name for Shun). These terms are used to praise ideal rulers or in discussions of Chinese classical history and philosophy.

Common words containing 舜 include: 尧舜 (yáo shùn) — Yao and Shun (legendary sage kings of ancient China); 舜帝 (shùn dì) — Emperor Shun; 虞舜 (yú shùn) — Emperor Shun.