鼠
shǔ · HSK 5
mouse
🐀 鼠 is a pictograph of a rodent: head on top, claws and long tail below
The ancient form drew whiskers, teeth, and a curling tail. 鼠 is the radical for rodents — it shows up in 鼴 (mole) and 鼯 (flying squirrel). Pinyin shǔ rhymes with 'shoe' — rats nibble shoes.
鼠 — pictograph of a rat with whiskers, teeth, claws, and tail
鼠 is a pictograph showing a rat or mouse: the top depicts the head and gnawing teeth, while the lower strokes show the belly, claws, and curled tail. It serves as the radical for many rodent-related characters and still means 'rat/mouse' today, including the zodiac Rat.