What does 声 mean in Chinese?

声 (shēng) means "sound; voice; tone; noise; classifier for sounds" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 3.

How do you pronounce 声?

声 is pronounced "shēng" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 声?

声 is an HSK 3 word on the new HSK exam syllabus.

What words contain the character 声?

Common words with 声 include 不动声色 (not a word or movement (idiom); remaining calm and collected), 一声 (first tone in Mandarin (high level tone)), 七声 (tones of the musical scale), 上声 (falling and rising tone), 中声 (medial (i.e. middle vowel of a syllable in Asian phonetics)).

How do you write 声?

You can practice writing 声 using our stroke order tool.

声 (shēng), sound

声

shēng

sound; voice; tone; noise

HSK 3 New to HSKclassifier

Traditional: 聲

Character Breakdown

Radical: 士 (no. 33)Traditional: 聲

View stroke order →

Definitions

(classifier) sound
voice
tone
noise
classifier for sounds

Example Sentences

远处传来一声巨响。

Yuǎnchù chuánlái yī shēng jùxiǎng

A loud sound came from the distance

Words Containing 声

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
不动声色	bù dòng shēng sè	not a word or movement (idiom); remaining calm and collected
一声	yī shēng	first tone in Mandarin (high level tone)
七声	qī shēng	tones of the musical scale
上声	shǎng shēng	falling and rising tone
中声	zhōng shēng	medial (i.e. middle vowel of a syllable in Asian phonetics)

→

叭(bā)· denote a sound or sharp noise (gunfire etc)

→

咾(lǎo)· a noise

→

唉唉(āi āi)· (onom.) sighing voice

→

Grammar Notes

As Long As (只要...就)HSK 3

只要 + Condition，(Subject) + 就 + Result

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 3
HSK 2.0: Not listed
HSK Lord study list: HSK 5 list

声: New to the HSK lists at HSK 3. 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 声 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.

声