su-chou: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1Neutral (used in all registers from informal to formal)
Quick answer
What does “su-chou” mean?
Of the kind or degree previously mentioned or implied.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Of the kind or degree previously mentioned or implied; to so great a degree.
Used to emphasize the degree or extent of something, often with a negative or surprising implication. Can introduce an example or a list of examples. Can also mean 'of the same kind'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or grammatical use. Minor differences in typical collocational frequency (e.g., 'such a lot' is more common in BrE, while 'so much' might be preferred in AmE).
Connotations
Equally neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “su-chou” in a Sentence
such + (a/an) + adjective + nounsuch + noun (uncountable/plural)such + as + examplesuch + that + clause (result)no such + nounVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “su-chou” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - 'such' is not a verb.
American English
- N/A - 'such' is not a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'such' is not a standard adverb. 'Such' as in 'such good food' functions as a predeterminer.
American English
- N/A - 'such' is not a standard adverb. 'Such' as in 'such a long drive' functions as a predeterminer.
adjective
British English
- She had never seen such beauty before.
- There's no such address in our records.
American English
- He told us some such story last week.
- I've never had such good barbecue.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to specify types of products, services, or results (e.g., 'We do not deal with such items.').
Academic
Used to introduce examples or to emphasize a degree within an argument (e.g., 'Such findings contradict previous theories.').
Everyday
Extremely common for emphasis and giving examples (e.g., 'It was such a nice day.' 'I like fruits such as apples and bananas.').
Technical
Used precisely to refer back to a previously defined type or category (e.g., 'Under such conditions, the material will fail.').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “su-chou”
- Incorrect article use: 'such beautiful city' instead of 'such a beautiful city'.
- Confusion with 'so': 'It was so interesting book' instead of 'It was such an interesting book'.
- Overuse in informal writing where a simpler word would suffice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'So' modifies adjectives and adverbs alone (so big, so quickly). 'Such' modifies noun phrases, appearing before 'a/an' + adjective + singular noun (such a big house) or before adjective + plural/uncountable noun (such big houses, such good advice).
No, only when it is followed by a singular countable noun. With plural or uncountable nouns, no article is used: 'such a car' (singular) vs. 'such cars' (plural) vs. 'such weather' (uncountable).
Yes, often for dramatic emphasis or formal reference. Examples: 'Such is the price of fame.' 'Such behaviour will not be tolerated.'
It is an idiomatic phrase meaning 'that thing does not exist' or 'that is not possible/true'. Example: 'A perfect job? There's no such thing!'
Of the kind or degree previously mentioned or implied.
Su-chou is usually neutral (used in all registers from informal to formal) in register.
Su-chou: in British English it is pronounced /sʌtʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /sʌtʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “such and such”
- “such as it is”
- “there's no such thing”
- “such is life”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SUCH' as 'SO MUCH' compressed. If something is 'such a problem', it is 'so much of a problem'.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEGREE IS SIZE (e.g., 'such a big problem' – the problem is metaphorically large). TYPE IS A CONTAINER (e.g., 'things such as...' – items contained within a category).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'such' correctly?