How do you say "custom" in Chinese?

习俗

xí sú

Noun Hanzi

In Chinese, "custom" is 习俗 (xí sú).

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Pronunciation

It's spoken "xí sú" (second tone, then second tone), where rising sharply, the way your voice lifts when you ask "what?". Keep the 2 syllables of xí sú distinct rather than blending them together.

Writing and usage

习俗 is written using hanzi. It's a noun, part of the vocabulary taught in the Noun Town language learning game.

Example sentence

室内脱鞋是当地的习俗。

shì nèi tuō xié shì dāng dì de xí sú 。

Removing your shoes indoors is a local custom.

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How to remember 习俗

Think of a vivid snapshot of when removing your shoes indoors is a local custom; it pairs naturally with the sound "xí sú".

Related words

Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.

Questions about 习俗

How do you pronounce 习俗?

It's spoken "xí sú" (second tone, then second tone), where rising sharply, the way your voice lifts when you ask "what?". Keep the 2 syllables of xí sú distinct rather than blending them together.

Is 习俗 formal or casual?

习俗 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.

How is 习俗 used in Chinese?

习俗 is used the same way as the equivalent English noun. For example: 室内脱鞋是当地的习俗。 (Removing your shoes indoors is a local custom.).

Where can I practice Chinese words for free?

You can play free Chinese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, no sign-up required. Every word in the Chinese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"Custom" in other languages

Curated by Jack Ratcliffe

This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Chinese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation. Want to play the full game? Get Noun Town on Steam.

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