# 索

| 索 | U+7D22, &#32034; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-7D22 |
| ← 紡 [U+7D21] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 紣 → [U+7D23] |
| 索 | U+F96A, &#63850; CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-F96A |
| ← 數 [U+F969] | CJK Compatibility Ideographs | 參 → [U+F96B] |

## Translingual
### Han character

索 (Kangxi radical 120, 糸+4, 10 strokes, cangjie input 十月女戈火 (JBVIF), four-corner 4090$_3$, composition ⿳十冖糸)

#### Derived characters

* 嗦 㮦 溹 䅴 䌇 鎍(𫔅) 䞽 䖛 𠋲 𭝻 𢱢 𤌘 𥻨 𧎳 𧛻 𩌈 𬵠 𪍟 𭅬 𩘝(𩙭) 𫦎 𭮹 𮭈 𪟹 𦅕 𦃆 𦆽 𤸴 𡩡 𥰼 𦵫 𩄜 𩮛

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: page 918, character 16
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 27306
* Dae Jaweon: page 1349, character 5
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 5, page 3369, character 9
* Unihan data for U+7D22
* Unihan data for U+F96A

## Chinese
### Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 索 :
| Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) | Liushutong (compiled in Ming) |
| Small seal script | Transcribed ancient scripts |
| | Old Chinese |
| 索 | *slaːɡ, *sraːɡ, *sreːɡ |
| 溹 | *slaːɡ, *sraːɡ, *sreːɡ |
Ideogrammic compound (會意 / 会意): 糸 (“thread”) + 𣎳 (“strip fibres off a hemp stalk”). Threads (rope) being removed from a fabric.
糸 visually represents the middle interior of the small seal script form, whereas 𣎳 is the three-pointed top part and the left and right lines.

### Etymology 1

From Austroasiatic; compare Proto-Vietic *ɟaːk (“rope”) (> Vietnamese chạc), Mon ဇုက် (“string; cord; rope; lashing; creeper”) (Schuessler, 2007).

#### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): suǒ (suo$^3$)
       (Zhuyin): ㄙㄨㄛˇ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): so$^2$
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): sok$^3$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): lhok$^{2-4}$ / lhok$^2$
* Hakka (Sixian, PFS): sok
* Eastern Min (BUC): só̤h
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): so$^5$ / seh$^6$ / sorh$^6$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): soh / sok / sek
    (Teochew, Peng'im): soh$^4$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^7$soq
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: suǒ
*** Zhuyin: ㄙㄨㄛˇ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: suǒ
*** Wade–Giles: so$^3$
*** Yale: swǒ
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: suoo
*** Palladius: со (so)
*** Sinological IPA : /su̯ɔ²¹⁴/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: so$^2$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: so
*** Sinological IPA : /so²¹/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: sok$^3$
*** Yale: sok
*** Cantonese Pinyin: sok$^8$
*** Guangdong Romanization: sog$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /sɔːk̚³/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: lhok$^{2-4}$ / lhok$^2$
*** Sinological IPA : /ɬɔk̚⁵⁵⁻²¹/, /ɬɔk̚⁵⁵/
* lhok2-4 - noun;
* lhok2 - verb.
* Middle Chinese: sak
Rime :
| Character | 索 |
| Reading # | 1/3 |
| Initial (聲) | 心 (16) |
| Final (韻) | 鐸 (103) |
| Tone (調) | Checked (Ø) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | I |
| Fanqie | 蘇各切 |
| Baxter | sak |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /sɑk̚/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /sɑk̚/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /sɑk̚/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /sak̚/ |
| Li Rong | /sɑk̚/ |
| Wang Li | /sɑk̚/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /sɑk̚/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | suo |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | sok$^3$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*[s]ˤak/
    (Zhengzhang): /*slaːɡ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 索 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | suǒ |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ sak › |
| Old Chinese | /*[s]ˁak/ |
| English | twist a rope |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 索 |
| Reading # | 1/3 |
| No. | 12191 |
| Phonetic component | 索 |
| Rime group | 鐸 |
| Rime subdivision | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 索 |
| Old Chinese | /*slaːɡ/ |

#### Definitions

索
* rope; cable
* (Teochew) to climb; to clamber
* (mahjong, regional) bamboo tile

##### Synonyms

| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 繩, 索 |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 繩索 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 繩子, 繩兒 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 繩子 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Harbin | 繩子 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 繩子 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 繩子 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 繩子 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Yantai (Muping) | 繩兒, 繩子 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Luoyang | 繩子 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Wanrong | 繩子, 繩 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 繩子 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xining | 繩子 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xuzhou | 繩子 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Yinchuan | 繩 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Ürümqi | 繩子 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 繩子, 索子 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 繩子, 索子 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guiyang | 繩子, 繩繩 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 繩子 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Liuzhou | 繩子 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Nanjing | 繩子 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 繩子 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 繩, 繩子 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 繩, 索 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou) | 繩, 繩仔 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Kam Tin; Weitou) | 繩, 繩仔 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Ting Kok) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Macau | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Panyu) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Conghua) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Zengcheng) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Foshan | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shunde) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Sanshui) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Zhongshan (Shiqi) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Doumen) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Baisha) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Xinhui) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Kaiping (Chikan) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Enping (Niujiang) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Heshan (Yayao) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Dongguan | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Qingyuan | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Fogang | 繩仔 |
| Cantonese | Yingde (Hanguang) | 麻繩 |
| Cantonese | Yangshan | 繩, 索 |
| Cantonese | Lianshan (Butian) | 索 |
| Cantonese | Lianzhou (Qingshui; Sihui) | 索 |
| Cantonese | Shaoguan | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Shaoguan (Qujiang) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Renhua | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Lechang | 繩, 索 |
| Cantonese | Zhaoqing (Gaoyao) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Sihui | 繩仔 |
| Cantonese | Guangning | 繩仔 |
| Cantonese | Deqing | 繩, 索繩 |
| Cantonese | Huaiji | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Fengkai (Nanfeng) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Yunfu | 繩, 索 |
| Cantonese | Xinxing | 繩, 索 |
| Cantonese | Luoding | 繩仔 |
| Cantonese | Yunan (Pingtai) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 索 |
| Cantonese | Xinyi | 索 |
| Cantonese | Maoming (Xinpo) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Lianjiang | 索 |
| Cantonese | Wuchuan (Wuyang) | 索 |
| Cantonese | Nanning | 繩, 索 |
| Cantonese | Wuzhou | 索, 繩 |
| Cantonese | Yulin | 索 |
| Cantonese | Hepu (Lianzhou) | 索 |
| Cantonese | Hepu (Shatian) | 索 large, 繩 small |
| Cantonese | Guiping | 索 |
| Cantonese | Mengshan (Xihe) | 索 |
| Cantonese | Guigang (Nanjiang) | 索 |
| Cantonese | Beiliu (Tangliao) | 索 |
| Cantonese | Baise | 索 |
| Cantonese | Bobai | 索 |
| Cantonese | Lingshan | 索 |
| Cantonese | Pubei | 索 |
| Cantonese | Qinzhou | 索 |
| Cantonese | Beihai | 索, 索仔 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Nankang) | 索 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Yingpan) | 索 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô) | 索 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà) | 索 big, 繩 small |
| Cantonese | Ningming | 索 |
| Cantonese | Hengzhou | 索 |
| Cantonese | Hezhou (Pumen, Babu) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Fangchenggang (Fangcheng) | 索 |
| Cantonese | Danzhou | 索 |
| Cantonese | Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu) | 繩 |
| Cantonese | Móng Cái | 索 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 繩子, 索子 |
| Gan | Lichuan | 繩兒, 繩仔, 索 |
| Gan | Pingxiang | 繩子 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 索仔, 索嫲, 索 |
| Hakka | Xingning | 索, 索嫲 |
| Hakka | Dabu (Xihe) | 索兒 |
| Hakka | Fengshun (Tangkeng) | 索 |
| Hakka | Fengshun (Fengliang) | 索 |
| Hakka | Fengshun (Pantian) | 索 |
| Hakka | Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua) | 繩 |
| Hakka | Huidong (Daling) | 索仔, 索嫲 |
| Hakka | Dongguan (Qingxi) | 索 |
| Hakka | Shenzhen (Shatoujiao) | 索仔 |
| Hakka | Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui) | 索嫲 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Shuizhai) | 索嫲 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Huacheng) | 索嫲, 索哩 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Changbu) | 索嫲 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Mianyang) | 索嫲 |
| Hakka | Heyuan (Bendihua) | 繩 small, 索 large |
| Hakka | Wengyuan | 索 |
| Hakka | Shaoguan (Qujiang) | 索子, 索嫲 |
| Hakka | Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang) | 索仔, 索嫲 |
| Hakka | Liannan | 索 |
| Hakka | Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua) | 繩 |
| Hakka | Jiexi | 索 |
| Hakka | Luhe | 索仔 |
| Hakka | Zhao'an (Xiuzhuan) | 索 |
| Hakka | Changting | 索子 |
| Hakka | Wuping | 索子 |
| Hakka | Wuping (Yanqian) | 索子 |
| Hakka | Wuping (Pingyu) | 索 |
| Hakka | Liancheng | 索子 |
| Hakka | Ninghua | 索子 |
| Hakka | Yudu | 繩子 |
| Hakka | Ningdu | 繩子 |
| Hakka | Ruijin | 索子, 繩 |
| Hakka | Shicheng | 繩 |
| Hakka | Shangyou (Shexi) | 繩 |
| Hakka | Tonggu (Sandu) | 繩 |
| Hakka | Ganzhou (Panlong) | 繩 |
| Hakka | Dayu | 繩哩 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 索仔 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 索仔 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 索仔 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 索 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 索仔 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 索 |
| Hakka | Hong Kong | 索嫲, 索 |
| Hakka | Yangxi (Tangkou) | 索 |
| Hakka | Yangchun (Sanjia) | 索 |
| Hakka | Xinyi (Sihe) | 索 |
| Hakka | Xinyi (Qianpai) | 索 |
| Hakka | Gaozhou (Xindong) | 索 |
| Hakka | Maoming (Shalang, Dianbai) | 索 |
| Hakka | Huazhou (Xin'an) | 索 |
| Hakka | Lianjiang (Shijiao) | 索 |
| Hakka | Lianjiang (Qingping) | 索 |
| Hakka | Mengshan (Xihe) | 索 |
| Hakka | Luchuan | 索 |
| Hakka | Luchuan (Daqiao) | 索 |
| Hakka | Beiliu (Tang'an) | 索 |
| Hakka | Mashan (Pianlian) | 索 |
| Hakka | Kuala Lumpur (Dabu) | 索 |
| Hakka | Senai (Huiyang) | 索嫲 |
| Hakka | Singkawang | 索 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 繩子 |
| Jin | Xinzhou | 繩子 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 索 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou (Dikou) | 索 |
| Northern Min | Songxi | 索 |
| Northern Min | Zhenghe | 索 |
| Northern Min | Zhenghe (Zhenqian) | 索 |
| Northern Min | Jianyang | 索 |
| Northern Min | Wuyishan | 索 |
| Northern Min | Pucheng (Shibei) | 索 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 索 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou (Changle) | 索 |
| Eastern Min | Fuqing | 索 |
| Eastern Min | Yongtai | 索 |
| Eastern Min | Gutian | 索 |
| Eastern Min | Fu'an | 索 |
| Eastern Min | Ningde | 索 |
| Eastern Min | Xiapu | 索 |
| Eastern Min | Zherong | 索 |
| Eastern Min | Shouning | 索 |
| Eastern Min | Zhouning | 索 |
| Eastern Min | Fuding | 索 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 索仔, 索 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 索仔, 索 |
| Southern Min | Yongchun | 索 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 索仔, 索 |
| Southern Min | Dongshan | 索仔 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung | 索仔 |
| Southern Min | Yilan | 索仔 |
| Southern Min | Changhua (Lukang) | 索仔 |
| Southern Min | Taichung | 索仔 |
| Southern Min | Taichung (Wuqi) | 索仔 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 索仔 |
| Southern Min | Taitung | 索仔 |
| Southern Min | Hsinchu | 索仔 |
| Southern Min | Penghu (Magong) | 索 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 索, 索仔 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 索 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 索 |
| Southern Min | Zhangping (Yongfu) | 索 |
| Southern Min | Datian | 索仔 |
| Southern Min | Pingnan (Shangdu) | 索 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 索 |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 索 |
| Southern Min | Shantou (Chenghai) | 索 |
| Southern Min | Jieyang | 索 |
| Southern Min | Haifeng | 索 |
| Southern Min | Bangkok (Teochew) | 索 |
| Southern Min | Phnom Penh (Teochew) | 索 |
| Southern Min | Johor Bahru (Teochew) | 索 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 索 |
| Southern Min | Leizhou | 索 |
| Southern Min | Wenchang | 索 |
| Southern Min | Haikou | 索 |
| Puxian Min | Putian | 索 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou | 索 |
| Puxian Min | Fuding (Aoyao) | 索 |
| Central Min | Yong'an | 索 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi) | 繩 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Sanxiang) | 繩 |
| Southern Pinghua | Nanning (Tingzi) | 索 |
| Northern Pinghua | Guilin (Dahe) | 索子 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 繩, 繩子 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Chongming) | 繩 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 繩 |
| Wu | Danyang | 繩子 |
| Wu | Ningbo | 繩 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 繩 |
| Wu | Jinhua | 繩 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 繩子, 索子 |
| Xiang | Loudi | 繩子 |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 繩子, 索子 |
| Note | General Taiwanese (no specific region identified) | General Taiwanese (no specific region identified) |
| Variety | Location | Words |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 條子 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 條子 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Langfang | 條子 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Chifeng | 條兒 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Hulunbuir (Hailar) | 條子 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Harbin | 條子, 條 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Shenyang | 條子, 索子 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 索子 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Tianjin | 條子 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Tangshan | 條子 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Cangzhou | 條子 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Baoding | 條子 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Shijiazhuang | 條子 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 條子 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Qingdao | 條子 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Daming | 條子 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Zhengzhou | 條 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 條, 索 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xining | 條子 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xuzhou | 條 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Yinchuan | 條子 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Lanzhou | 條子, 索子 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Ürümqi | 條子 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 條子 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chongqing | 條子, 索子 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guiyang | 條子 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Kunming | 條子, 索子 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 索子 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Liuzhou | 條子 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Nanjing | 條子 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 條子 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Nantong | 條 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 條子 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Huanggang | 條子, 索子 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 索子 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 索子, 條子 |
| Gan | Lichuan | 索子 |
| Huizhou | Shexian | 條, 索 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 條子, 棍子 |
| Jin | Xinzhou | 棍子 |
| Jin | Linhe | 條子 |
| Jin | Jining | 條子 |
| Jin | Hohhot | 條子, 棍子 |
| Jin | Zhangjiakou | 條子 |
| Jin | Handan | 條, 條子 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 索 |

### Etymology 2

Ultimately Austroasiatic; compare Khmer ស (sɑɑ, “white; to show something clearly”); cognate with 素 (OC *saːs, “colourless; plain”) (Schuessler, 2007).

#### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): suǒ (suo$^3$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄙㄨㄛˇ
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): saak$^3$ / sok$^3$ / suk$^3$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): sok$^2$
* Hakka (Sixian, PFS): sok
* Eastern Min (BUC): sáuk
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): soh / sak / sok / sek
    (Teochew, Peng'im): sog$^4$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^7$soq
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: suǒ
*** Zhuyin: ㄙㄨㄛˇ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: suǒ
*** Wade–Giles: so$^3$
*** Yale: swǒ
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: suoo
*** Palladius: со (so)
*** Sinological IPA : /su̯ɔ²¹⁴/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: saak$^3$ / sok$^3$ / suk$^3$
*** Yale: saak / sok / suk
*** Cantonese Pinyin: saak$^8$ / sok$^8$ / suk$^8$
*** Guangdong Romanization: sag$^3$ / sog$^3$ / sug$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /saːk̚³/, /sɔːk̚³/, /sʊk̚³/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: sok$^2$
*** Sinological IPA : /sɔk̚⁵⁵/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sok
*** Hakka Romanization System: sog$^ˋ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: sog$^5$
*** Sinological IPA: /sok̚²/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: sáuk
*** Sinological IPA : /sɑuʔ²⁴/
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: soh
*** Tâi-lô: soh
*** Phofsit Daibuun: soiq
*** IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei): /soʔ³²/
*** IPA (Kaohsiung): /sɤʔ³²/
** (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sak
*** Tâi-lô: sak
*** Phofsit Daibuun: sag
*** IPA (Quanzhou): /sak̚⁵/
** (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, variant in Taiwan)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sok
*** Tâi-lô: sok
*** Phofsit Daibuun: sog
*** IPA (Quanzhou): /sɔk̚⁵/
*** IPA (Xiamen, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /sɔk̚³²/
** (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sek
*** Tâi-lô: sik
*** Phofsit Daibuun: seg
*** IPA (Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /siɪk̚³²/
* soh/sak - vernacular;
* sok/sek - literary.
* Middle Chinese: srjaek, sreak
Rime :
| Character | 索 | 索 |
| Reading # | 2/3 | 3/3 |
| Initial (聲) | 生 (21) | 生 (21) |
| Final (韻) | 陌 (115) | 麥 (119) |
| Tone (調) | Checked (Ø) | Checked (Ø) |
| Openness (開合) | Open | Open |
| Division (等) | III | II |
| Fanqie | 山戟切 | 山責切 |
| Baxter | srjaek | sreak |
| Reconstructions |||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /ʃˠiæk̚/ | /ʃˠɛk̚/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /ʃᵚiak̚/ | /ʃᵚæk̚/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /ʃiak̚/ | /ʃɐk̚/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /ʂiajk̚/ | /ʂəɨjk̚/ |
| Li Rong | /ʃiɐk̚/ | /ʃɛk̚/ |
| Wang Li | /ʃĭɐk̚/ | /ʃæk̚/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /ʂiɐk̚/ | /ʂæk̚/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | shi | she |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | sik$^1$ | sak$^1$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*[s]ˤak/
    (Zhengzhang): /*sraːɡ/, /*sreːɡ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 索 |
| Reading # | 2/2 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | suǒ |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ sak › |
| Old Chinese | /*[s]ˁak/ |
| English | search (v.) |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 索 | 索 |
| Reading # | 2/3 | 3/3 |
| No. | 12193 | 12195 |
| Phonetic component | 索 | 索 |
| Rime group | 鐸 | 錫 |
| Rime subdivision | 0 | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 𡩡 | 栜 |
| Old Chinese | /*sraːɡ/ | /*sreːɡ/ |

#### Definitions

索
* to search; to look for; to inquire into
* to request; to demand
* (literary) alone; solitary
* (literary) uninteresting; dull; insipid

### Etymology 3

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

#### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): suǒ (suo$^3$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄙㄨㄛˇ
* Cantonese (Jyutping): sok$^3$
* Hakka (Sixian, PFS): Sok
* Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ): Sek / Sak
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: suǒ
*** Zhuyin: ㄙㄨㄛˇ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: suǒ
*** Wade–Giles: so$^3$
*** Yale: swǒ
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: suoo
*** Palladius: со (so)
*** Sinological IPA : /su̯ɔ²¹⁴/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: sok$^3$
*** Yale: sok
*** Cantonese Pinyin: sok$^8$
*** Guangdong Romanization: sog$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /sɔːk̚³/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: Sok
*** Hakka Romanization System: sog$^ˋ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: sog$^5$
*** Sinological IPA: /sok̚²/
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Sek
*** Tâi-lô: Sik
*** Phofsit Daibuun: seg
*** IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /siɪk̚³²/
** (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Sak
*** Tâi-lô: Sak
*** Phofsit Daibuun: sag
*** IPA (Quanzhou): /sak̚⁵/
* Middle Chinese: sak
Rime :
| Character | 索 |
| Reading # | 1/3 |
| Initial (聲) | 心 (16) |
| Final (韻) | 鐸 (103) |
| Tone (調) | Checked (Ø) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | I |
| Fanqie | 蘇各切 |
| Baxter | sak |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /sɑk̚/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /sɑk̚/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /sɑk̚/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /sak̚/ |
| Li Rong | /sɑk̚/ |
| Wang Li | /sɑk̚/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /sɑk̚/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | suo |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | sok$^3$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Zhengzhang): /*slaːɡ/
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 索 |
| Reading # | 1/3 |
| No. | 12191 |
| Phonetic component | 索 |
| Rime group | 鐸 |
| Rime subdivision | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 索 |
| Old Chinese | /*slaːɡ/ |

#### Definitions

索
* a surname

### Etymology 4
#### Pronunciation

* Cantonese (Jyutping): sok$^3$
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: sok$^3$
*** Yale: sok
*** Cantonese Pinyin: sok$^8$
*** Guangdong Romanization: sog$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /sɔːk̚³/

#### Definitions

索
* (Cantonese) to absorb
* (Cantonese) to sniff; to smell

### Etymology 5

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “From 嗍, 欶?”)

#### Pronunciation

* Cantonese (Jyutping): sok$^3$
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: sok$^3$
*** Yale: sok
*** Cantonese Pinyin: sok$^8$
*** Guangdong Romanization: sog$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /sɔːk̚³/

#### Definitions

索
* (Cantonese, of a female) beautiful; pretty; hot; sexually attractive

### Compounds

* 一索得男 (yīsuǒdénán)
* 一索成男
* 一落索
* 丁娘十索
* 不假思索 (bùjiǎsīsuǒ)
* 不加思索 (bùjiāsīsuǒ)
* 不索
* 伊索寓言
* 伸鉤索鐵 / 伸钩索铁
* 便索
* 倒裳索領 / 倒裳索领
* 全文檢索 / 全文检索 (quánwén jiǎnsuǒ)
* 八索
* 八索九丘
* 冥思苦索 (míngsīkǔsuǒ)
* 則索 / 则索
* 勒索 (lèsuǒ)
* 原索動物 / 原索动物
* 只索
* 名韁利索 / 名缰利索
* 吹毛索疵
* 國際索償 / 国际索偿
* 坐索
* 培格索斯
* 外高加索 (Wài Gāojiāsuǒ)
* 大索
* 奔車朽索 / 奔车朽索
* 套索 (tàosuǒ)
* 婪索
* 尋瑕索瘢 / 寻瑕索瘢
* 導爆索 / 导爆索
* 尾索動物 / 尾索动物
* 徽索
* 思索 (sīsuǒ)
* 悉索敝賦 / 悉索敝赋
* 悉索薄賦 / 悉索薄赋
* 意興索然 / 意兴索然
* 戎索
* 戰索索 / 战索索
* 拉索
* 拍索
* 披索 (pīsuǒ)
* 披麻帶索 / 披麻带索
* 按圖索驥 / 按图索骥 (àntúsuǒjì)
* 探奧索隱 / 探奥索隐
* 探幽索隱 / 探幽索隐
* 探淵索珠 / 探渊索珠
* 探索 (tànsuǒ)
* 推索
* 探賾索微 / 探赜索微
* 探賾索隱 / 探赜索隐
* 搜索 (sōusuǒ)
* 搜索半徑 / 搜索半径
* 搜索枯腸 / 搜索枯肠 (sōusuǒkūcháng)
* 搜索票
* 搜索隊 / 搜索队
* 搝大索 (khiú-tōa-soh) (Min Nan)
* 摳摳索索 / 抠抠索索
* 摸索 (mōsuǒ)
* 撲索 / 扑索
* 擿埴索塗 / 擿埴索涂
* 敲詐勒索 / 敲诈勒索 (qiāozhàlèsuǒ)
* 智盡能索 / 智尽能索
* 暗中摸索
* 暌索
* 木索
* 枯索 (kūsuǒ)
* 枯魚銜索 / 枯鱼衔索
* 檢索 / 检索 (jiǎnsuǒ)
* 比索 (bǐsuǒ)
* 氣索 / 气索
* 求索 (qiúsuǒ)
* 決裂索性 / 决裂索性
* 泛索
* 沮索
* 洗垢索瘢
* 消索
* 漫天索價 / 漫天索价
* 滾肚索 / 滚肚索
* 犬馬齒索 / 犬马齿索
* 瑟索
* 百索
* 知盡能索 / 知尽能索
* 索倫 / 索伦 (Suǒlún)
* 索債 / 索债 (suǒzhài)
* 索價 / 索价
* 索利
* 索取 (suǒqǔ)
* 索合
* 索命 (suǒmìng)
* 索垢尋疵 / 索垢寻疵
* 索婦 / 索妇
* 索子 (suǒzi)
* 索寞 (suǒmò)
* 索居 (suǒjū)
* 索引 (suǒyǐn)
* 索強如 / 索强如
* 索性
* 索放
* 索是
* 索書號碼 / 索书号码
* 索橋 / 索桥
* 索欠
* 索河 (Suǒhé)
* 索然 (suǒrán)
* 索然寡味 (suǒránguǎwèi)
* 索然無味 / 索然无味 (suǒránwúwèi)
* 索爾 / 索尔 (suǒ'ěr)
* 索盡枯腸 / 索尽枯肠
* 索米長安 / 索米长安
* 索粉
* 索索
* 索羅 / 索罗
* 索興 / 索兴
* 索落
* 索薪
* 索虜 / 索虏
* 索討 / 索讨
* 索訶 / 索诃
* 索賄 / 索贿 (suǒhuì)
* 索賠 / 索赔 (suǒpéi)
* 索道 (suǒdào)
* 索隱 / 索隐
* 索隱行怪 / 索隐行怪
* 索頭 / 索头
* 索頭虜 / 索头虏
* 索馬利亞 / 索马利亚 (Suǒmǎlìyà)
* 索鬧 / 索闹
* 索麵 / 索面
* 絃索 / 弦索
* 絆馬索 / 绊马索 (bànmǎsuǒ)
* 絞索 / 绞索 (jiǎosuǒ)
* 網路索引 / 网路索引
* 線索 / 线索 (xiànsuǒ)
* 繩索 / 绳索 (shéngsuǒ)
* 脊索 (jǐsuǒ)
* 脊索動物 / 脊索动物 (jǐsuǒ dòngwù)
* 興味索然 / 兴味索然 (xìngwèisuǒrán)
* 興致索然 / 兴致索然
* 落索
* 蒱睃摸索
* 蒐索 (sōusuǒ)
* 蕭索 / 萧索 (xiāosuǒ)
* 衣索比亞 / 衣索比亚 (Yīsuǒbǐyà)
* 覓索 / 觅索
* 謁索 / 谒索
* 貫索 / 贯索
* 資料索引 / 资料索引
* 資訊檢索 / 资讯检索
* 賴索托 / 赖索托 (Làisuǒtuō)
* 走索
* 走繩索 / 走绳索
* 跳天索地
* 跳百索
* 跳索
* 跳馬索 / 跳马索
* 踩軟索 / 踩软索
* 追索 (zhuīsuǒ)
* 追索權 / 追索权
* 連索 / 连索
* 郭索
* 金石索
* 鉤索 / 钩索
* 鉤索羅織 / 钩索罗织
* 鋼索 / 钢索 (gāngsuǒ)
* 鐵索 / 铁索 (tiěsuǒ)
* 鐵索郎當 / 铁索郎当
* 離群索居 / 离群索居 (líqúnsuǒjū)
* 雷達搜索 / 雷达搜索
* 需索
* 霍索
* 頂橦踏索 / 顶橦踏索
* 須索 / 须索
* 高加索 (Gāojiāsuǒ)
* 黑克索斯
* 點索 / 点索

### References

* “索”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2025.

## Japanese
### Kanji

(Jōyō kanji)
* string, thread (なわ, つな)
* search, look for (もとめる, さがす)
* alone; solitary

#### Readings

* Go-on: しゃく (shaku)、さく (saku, Jōyō)
* Kan-on: さく (saku, Jōyō)
* Kun: なわ (nawa, 索)、つな (tsuna, 索)、もとめる (motomeru, 索める)、さがす (sagasu, 索す)

#### Compounds

* 検索(けんさく) (kensaku): search, look up, retrieve
* 索引(さくいん) (sakuin): index

### References

* ↑ “索”, in 漢字ぺディア [Kanjipedia]‎ (in Japanese), The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, 2015–2025

## Korean
### Etymology 1

From Middle Chinese 索 (MC srjaek|sreak). Recorded as Middle Korean ᄉᆡᆨ〮 (Yale: sóyk) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448.

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [sʰɛk̚] ~ [sʰe̞k̚]
* Phonetic hangul: [색/섹]

#### Hanja

Wikisource 索 (eumhun 찾을 색 (chajeul saek))
* hanja form of 색 (“to search”)
* hanja form of 색 (“to request; to demand”)
* hanja form of 색 (“to inquire”)

#### Compounds

* 검색 (檢索, geomsaek)
* 구색 (究索, gusaek)
* 모색 (摸索, mosaek)
* 사색 (思索, sasaek)
* 색거 (索居, saekgeo)
* 색인 (索引, saegin, “index”)
* 색출 (索出, saekchul, “track down”)
* 수색 (搜索, susaek, “search; investigation”)
* 탐색 (探索, tamsaek, “search; exploration”)

### Etymology 2

From Middle Chinese 索 (MC sak). Recorded as Middle Korean 삭〮 (sák) (Yale: sák) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [sʰa̠k̚]
* Phonetic hangul: [삭]

#### Hanja

索 (eumhun 노 삭 (no sak))
* hanja form of 삭 (“rope; cable”)

#### Compounds

* 삭도 (索道, sakdo)
* 삭막 (索莫/索寞/索漠, sangmak)
* 삭연 (索然, sagyeon)
* 척삭 (脊索, cheoksak)

### References

* 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

## Vietnamese
### Chữ Hán

索: Hán Nôm readings: sách, tác, xách
* This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.