勺 sháo ladle
ladle; spoon; spoonful
How to remember 勺: 勹 wrap + 丶 a drop = ladle. The cook wants to wrap up soup for a guest, but not a drop may be spilled, so she reaches for the ladle.
Component breakdown
勺 = 勹 wrap + 丶 a drop
- 勹 wrap
- 丶 a drop
The cook wants to wrap up soup for a guest, but not a drop may be spilled, so she reaches for the ladle.
How it came to be
A bent shape with a single dot inside it: a ladle with something in the bowl. The wrap block is the bend and the dot is what it is carrying.
How it is used
- A spoon or ladle for scooping - the object is almost always 勺子 (sháozi); bare 勺 mostly appears as a measure: 一勺糖 (yì sháo táng) a spoonful of sugar.
- Distinguish from 匙 (chí, as in 汤匙 tāngchí) and from 调羹 (tiáogēng) - 勺子 is the general household scoop, wooden or metal.
- Note the reading is sháo, not the tempting 'shuò'.
Characters built with 勺
Words with 勺
Example sentences
- 这个勺子很脏。 Zhège sháozi hěn zāng.This spoon is very dirty.