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胥 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
all, together, mutuallynr, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #43620, Very Hard
surname Xuunknown, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #43620, Very Hard
assistunknown, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #43620, Very Hard
to storeunknown, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #43620, Very Hard
(Xu1) T1
  1. 1all, together, mutually
  2. 2assist
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(Xu1)

The character 胥 (xū) primarily means 'all,' 'together,' or 'mutually,' often used in literary or formal contexts. It can also refer to the surname 'Xu' and is associated with assisting or storing things. This character is less common in everyday language but may appear in historical texts or classical literature.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#43620DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese history, the character 胥 is often found in classical texts that emphasize cooperation and mutual support, reflecting the Confucian value of harmony in relationships. This underscores the importance of community and collective effort in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a group of people (the components of 胥) standing together, holding hands, symbolizing unity and mutual assistance. The left part (月) can be thought of as 'moon' which often represents fullness and togetherness, while the right part (余) suggests abundance, reinforcing the idea of everything being together.

Meanings of 胥

(Xu1)
1all, together, mutually
2assist
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 胥

Simplified
9Strokes
Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 胥

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 胥

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a group of people (the components of 胥) standing together, holding hands, symbolizing unity and mutual assistance. The left part (月) can be thought of as 'moon' which often represents fullness and togetherness, while the right part (余) suggests abundance, reinforcing the idea of everything being together.

Usage Notes

While 胥 is not commonly used in daily conversations, it may appear in specific contexts related to literature or formal writing. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words and ensure they use the correct tone, as it is pronounced in the first tone (xū). Common collocations include 胥互 (mutually).

HSK Study Tips

As 胥 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it's beneficial for learners to focus on related characters and phrases that convey mutuality or assistance. Connecting this character with others at HSK levels 3-6, like 互 (hù, mutual) or 帮 (bāng, to help), can enhance understanding.

Cultural Note

In Chinese history, the character 胥 is often found in classical texts that emphasize cooperation and mutual support, reflecting the Confucian value of harmony in relationships. This underscores the importance of community and collective effort in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 胥 with similar-sounding characters, leading to misuse in context. For example, using 胥 instead of 需 (xū, to need) can alter the intended meaning significantly.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 胥

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Etymology of 胥

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A body ⺼ wrapped in cloth 疋

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 胥?

Decomposition of 胥

IDS Structure⿱疋⺼
Full Character
=
pi3
top
rou4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 胥?

Write 胥

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 胥

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese history, the character 胥 is often found in classical texts that emphasize cooperation and mutual support, reflecting the Confucian value of harmony in relationships. This underscores the importance of community and collective effort in Chinese culture.

Word Family of 胥

Words Containing This Character3
all
伍子胥Wu Zixu (-484 BC), powerful politician in Wu
赫胥黎Huxley (name)
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 胥 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 胥

In modern usage, 胥 is primarily seen in formal or literary contexts, meaning 'together' or 'mutually.'