Su (traditional Chinese character)

蘇 is a Chinese character whose meaning depends on its word. It appears in surnames, place names such as 江蘇 and 蘇州, the plant name 紫蘇, and words for waking or recovery such as 蘇醒.

The ancient Chinese poetry collection Classic of Poetry includes 扶蘇, which traditional commentary reads as a small tree. An early dictionary, 說文解字, defines 蘇 as 桂荏, an old plant name later identified as purple perilla. The grass component signals the plant sense; 穌 supplies the sound.

What if someone sends only 蘇?

Ask what word or name they mean. Alone, the character cannot tell you whether it points to a person, place, plant, transliteration, or a word about waking or recovery.