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March 24, 2026
抒shū(shu1)
The character 抒 (shū) primarily means 'to express' or 'to give expression to' one's thoughts or feelings. It is commonly used in contexts where emotions, ideas, or sentiments are articulated, often in a poetic or artistic manner. Additionally, 抒 can be a variant of 紓, which means 'to relieve' or 'to ease', indicating a sense of alleviating burdens.
Strokes7Radical扌Frequency#38249DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese poetry, 抒 is often used to convey deep emotions and personal reflections, showcasing the significance of emotional expression in traditional literature. It highlights the cultural value placed on articulating one's inner feelings.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person pouring out their heart (expressing feelings) while holding a large cup (the character 抒 resembles a person with an arm raised). This visual can help connect the character's meaning of expressing emotions with its pronunciation 'shū', as in 'shew' your feelings.
Meanings of 抒
shū(shu1)
1to express
2to give expression to
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 抒
抒Simplified
7Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#38249Frequency Rank
Podcast: 抒
Podcast: 抒
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AI Study Notes for 抒
Quick Contrast
抒 (shū) vs 表达 (biǎodá) — use 抒 for a more artistic or emotional expression, while 表达 is more general and can refer to any form of expression.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person pouring out their heart (expressing feelings) while holding a large cup (the character 抒 resembles a person with an arm raised). This visual can help connect the character's meaning of expressing emotions with its pronunciation 'shū', as in 'shew' your feelings.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 抒 with 紓, although they are related; 抒 focuses on expression, while 紓 relates to relief. It is often used in literary or artistic contexts, making it more formal than everyday speech. Common collocations include 抒情 (shūqíng) meaning 'to express feelings' or 抒发 (shūfā) meaning 'to express or articulate'.
HSK Study Tips
Although 抒 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects well with HSK vocabulary related to emotions and expression, such as 感情 (gǎnqíng) meaning 'feelings' and 表达 (biǎodá) meaning 'to express'. Students should focus on using 抒 in writing and poetry to enhance their expressive capabilities.
Cultural Note
In Chinese poetry, 抒 is often used to convey deep emotions and personal reflections, showcasing the significance of emotional expression in traditional literature. It highlights the cultural value placed on articulating one's inner feelings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 抒 with similar-sounding words, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我想要抒我的痛苦' (I want to express my pain) is correct, but using it in place of 紓, like '抒压' (should be 紓压 for relieve pressure), is a common mistake.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 抒
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Grammar Patterns of 抒
抒 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他这些年写了几首政治色彩鲜明的____情诗。
He's written a few overtly political lyrics over the years.
Example Sentences for 抒 (6)
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1
他这些年写了几首政治色彩鲜明的抒情诗。
tā zhè xiē nián xiě le jī shǒu zhèng zhì sè cǎi xiān míng de shū qíng shī。
He's written a few overtly political lyrics over the years.
2
这首诗是雪莱抒情诗的范例.
zhè shǒu shī shì xuě lái shū qíng shī de fàn lì.
This is a good example of Shelley's lyric poetry.
3
在交响乐中间有一段奇妙的抒情长笛独奏.
zài jiāo xiǎng lè zhōng jiān yǒu yī duàn qí miào de shū qíng cháng dí dú zòu.
There's wonderfully lyrical flute solo in the middle of this symphony.
Celia had become less afraid of'saying things " to Dorothea since this engagement.
Cultural Notes for 抒
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese poetry, 抒 is often used to convey deep emotions and personal reflections, showcasing the significance of emotional expression in traditional literature. It highlights the cultural value placed on articulating one's inner feelings.
Word Family of 抒
Words Containing This Character8
抒情shūqínglyric
抒发to give vent抒發
抒shūto express
各抒己见gèshūjǐjiàneveryone gives their own view各抒己見
抒情诗lyric poetry抒情詩
抒写to express (emotions in prose)抒寫
抒怀to express emotion抒懷
直抒胸臆to speak one's mind
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 抒情 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 抒
Common phrases include 抒情 (to express feelings) and 抒发 (to express or articulate).
While it can be used in casual conversation, it is more commonly found in literary or formal contexts.
Both characters share similar meanings, but 抒 emphasizes expression while 紓 focuses on relief.
