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涩

澀
sè
adjective #22,675

Meanings

  1. 1 astringent
  2. 2 tart
  3. 3 rough (to the touch or taste)
  4. 4 difficult to understand
  5. 5 obscure
  6. 6 unsmooth

Examples

这种柿子很涩，不能直接吃。
Zhè zhǒng shìzi hěn sè, bù néng zhíjiē chī.
This type of persimmon is very astringent — it cannot be eaten directly.
这篇文章文字艰涩，读起来很费力。
Zhè piān wénzhāng wénzì jiānsè, dú qǐlái hěn fèilì.
This article uses obscure language and is very hard to read.
木门因为受潮而变得涩口难推。
Mù mén yīnwèi shòu cháo ér biàn dé sè kǒu nán tuī.
The wooden door became rough and hard to push due to moisture.

Tips

usage
涩 has three related senses: (1) astringent/tart taste (like unripe persimmons), (2) rough or unsmooth surface or movement, and (3) obscure/difficult text or speech. All share the core feeling of resistance or dryness. The compound 苦涩 (bitter and astringent) is very common, used both literally and figuratively for bitter emotions.
memory
Think of biting into an unripe persimmon — your mouth puckers and dries. That drying, resistant sensation is 涩.

Stroke Order

涩 sè