How to write 诉 (sù, “to complain”)
诉 (sù), an HSK 2 character, means “to complain”, “to sue” and “to tell”. It is HSK 2 in the 2025 syllabus, up from level 1 in the 2021 standard. The traditional form is 訴, 12 strokes instead of 7. Among the HSK words it appears in 告诉 (“to tell”), 投诉 (“to lodge a complaint”) and 上诉 (“to appeal”). Japanese keeps the traditional 訴, read so (“accusation”).
- Pinyin
- sù
- Strokes
- 7
- HSK
- 2
- Radical
- 讠 (“speech”)
- Traditional
- 訴
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
As a left-right character it splits into 讠 (“speech”, the radical), strokes 1–2; 斥 (“to blame”), strokes 3–7, written the left part first.
- top leftdown and right
- leftrightwards → downwards → up and right
- top rightdown and left
- topdownwards → down and left
- centerrightwards
- rightdownwards
- centerdown and right
Traditional form
- Simplified
- 诉 · 7 strokes
- Traditional
- 訴 · 12 strokes · see its strokes
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
Pinyin and meaning
| Pinyin | Meanings | Traditional | In words |
|---|---|---|---|
| sù fourth tone | to complain; to sue; to tell | 訴 | 投诉 上诉 诉说 起诉 |
- HSK 2025 syllabus
- level 2
- 2021 standard
- level 1
- HSK 2.0
- in a level 2 word
- Words with it
- 50 in CC-CEDICT
Words with 诉
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 告诉 告訴 | gàosu | to tell; to inform HSK 2 |
| 投诉 投訴 | tóusù | to lodge a complaint HSK 6 |
| 上诉 上訴 | shàngsù | to appeal (a judicial case); appeal HSK 7-9 |
| 诉说 訴說 | sùshuō | to recount; to tell of HSK 7-9 |
| 起诉 起訴 | qǐsù | to sue; to bring a lawsuit against HSK 7-9 |
| 诉求 訴求 | sùqiú | to demand; to call for HSK 7-9 |
| 申诉 申訴 | shēnsù | to file a complaint; to appeal… HSK 7-9 |
| 诉苦 訴苦 | sùkǔ | to grumble; to complain HSK 7-9 |
| 倾诉 傾訴 | qīngsù | to say everything (that is on one's mind) HSK 7-9 |
| 诉诸 訴諸 | sùzhū | to appeal (to reason, sentiment, charity etc); to resort to… HSK 7-9 |
HSK words first (CC-CEDICT).
Practice sheet
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HSK 2, in list order: