What does 刷 mean in Chinese?

刷 (shuā) means "to brush; to paint; to daub; to paste up; to skip class (of students); to fire from a job" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 3.

How do you pronounce 刷?

刷 is pronounced "shuā" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 刷?

刷 is an HSK 3 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 3 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 刷?

Common words with 刷 include 刷牙 (to brush one's teeth), 刷子 (brush), 印刷 (to print), 刷入 (to flash), 刷卡 (to use a credit card (or swipe card, smart card etc)).

How do you write 刷?

You can practice writing 刷 using our stroke order tool.

刷 (shuā), to brush

刷

shuā

to brush; to paint; to daub; to paste up

HSK 3verb

Character Breakdown

Radical: 刀 (no. 18)

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) to brush
to paint
to daub
to paste up
to skip class (of students)
to fire from a job

Example Sentences

请刷一下卡。

Qǐng shuā yīxià kǎ

Please swipe the card

Words Containing 刷

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
刷牙	shuā yá	to brush one's teeth
刷子	shuā zi	brush
印刷	yìn shuā	to print	HSK 5
刷入	shuā rù	to flash
刷卡	shuā kǎ	to use a credit card (or swipe card, smart card etc)

→

膏(gāo)· ointment

→

涂(tú)· to apply (paint etc)

→

旷(kuàng)· to neglect

→

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 3
HSK 2.0: HSK 3
HSK Lord study list: HSK 4 list

刷: HSK 3 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 3 exam

Studying for HSK 3? Keep 刷 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 3 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.

刷