How to Write 擞 (sǒu) — Meaning “to shake; to rouse”

Imagine using your hand (扌) to vigorously shake a pile of numbers (数) to 'rouse' them into action, like waking up a sleepy calculator. Another trick is to connect the common word 抖擞 to the image of someone shaking off laziness and becoming full of energy. The 'number' part can remind you that this character appears in the energetic idiom 精神抖擞.

Write the hand radical 扌 first (3 strokes: horizontal, vertical hook, lift), then the right component 数 (13 strokes). Pay special attention to the balance: the left radical should be narrower, while the right side has many horizontal and downward strokes. A common mistake is making the 扌 too wide or misplacing the hook in 数, so practice keeping the right side compact and evenly spaced.

擞 (sǒu) means 'to shake' and has 数 on the right; 摔 (shuāi) means 'to fall' or 'to throw' and has 衰 on the right, which looks like 衣 with a middle stroke; 摘 (zhāi) means 'to pick' and has 啇 on the right (a top like 亠 with a mouth below). Visually, 数 in 擞 contains 女 and 攵, while the other two have distinct shapes, and their meanings are completely different.

擞 is not a common standalone word but appears in the fixed phrase 精神抖擞 (jīng shén dǒu sǒu), which describes someone full of energy and high spirits. It is often used to praise athletes, students, or anyone showing strong vitality. Another word is 抖擞 itself, meaning to rouse oneself, but it is mostly seen in literary or formal contexts.

Common words containing 擞 include: 精神抖擞 (jīng shén dǒu sǒu) — Full of energy; in high spirits.; 抖擞 (dǒu sǒu) — to enliven; to rouse; to pull oneself together; 擞动 (sǒu dòng) — to shake; to quiver.