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March 24, 2026
须(須)xū(xu1)
The character 须 (xū) primarily means 'must' or 'to have to,' indicating necessity or obligation. It can also refer to facial hair like a beard or mustache, and in entomology, it describes feelers of insects. The versatility of this character allows it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Strokes9Radical彡Frequency#6111DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, facial hair has often been associated with wisdom and maturity, especially in historical figures. The character 须 can also appear in classical texts discussing virtues and responsibilities.
Memory Tip
Imagine a man with a long beard (须) who must (xū) wait for something important. The character resembles a person with facial hair, and the sound 'xū' can be remembered by thinking of someone saying 'shoo!' to express urgency.
Meanings of 须
xū(xu1)
1must
2to have to
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 须
须Simplified
須Traditional
9Strokes
彡Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#6111Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 须
Podcast: 须
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AI Study Notes for 须
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a man with a long beard (须) who must (xū) wait for something important. The character resembles a person with facial hair, and the sound 'xū' can be remembered by thinking of someone saying 'shoo!' to express urgency.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 须 with 需 (xū), which also means 'to need.' Use 须 in contexts that imply obligation, such as '你须尽快完成作业' (You must finish your homework quickly). Be mindful of the tone and pronunciation.
HSK Study Tips
While 须 is not in the official HSK levels, it connects with other modal verbs like 要 (yào - to want) and 应该 (yīnggāi - should). Focus on its use in expressing necessity and obligation, as well as recognizing its role in idiomatic expressions.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, facial hair has often been associated with wisdom and maturity, especially in historical figures. The character 须 can also appear in classical texts discussing virtues and responsibilities.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 须 with its homophones or similar characters, leading to incorrect usage. For instance, saying '我须去' (I must go) instead of '我需要去' (I need to go) can confuse native speakers; '须' implies more urgency than simply needing.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 须
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Simplified form of 須. Pictograph of a person with a bearded face. The current meaning is a phonetic loan. In simplified Chinese 须 is also used to mean "beard", while in traditional Chinese this meaning is written with a separate character 鬚.
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Grammar Patterns of 须
须 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 8 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.
You have to scrupulously check and cross-check everything you hear.
Cultural Notes for 须
💡Did you know?
'须' is often associated with facial hair in Chinese culture. The character can represent a beard, which is traditionally considered a sign of wisdom and maturity in some cultures.
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, facial hair has often been associated with wisdom and maturity, especially in historical figures. The character 须 can also appear in classical texts discussing virtues and responsibilities.
📜Proverb
A common saying is '知之为知之，不知为不知，是知也', which emphasizes the importance of knowing what one must know - much like understanding when you '须' take action.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In many cultures, beards symbolize different things. In China, a beard can signify wisdom, while in other cultures, it may represent masculinity or religious devotion.
Word Family of 须
Compounds1
媭
Words Containing This Character20
必须bìxūmust必須
须xūbeard鬚
无须wúxūneed not無須
胡须húxūbeard鬍鬚
须知xūzhīkey information須知
莫须有groundless莫須有
须要must須要
剃须刀shaver剃鬚刀
何须why should何須
须臾in a flash須臾
须眉man or men (formal)鬚眉
须发hair and beard鬚髮
触须tentacles觸鬚
须弥Mt Meru or Sumeru, sacred mountain in Buddhist and Jain tradition須彌
根须roots根鬚
溜须拍马to toady溜鬚拍馬
横须贺Yokosuka (port and navy base in the Tokyo bay)橫須賀
须根fibrous roots須根
解铃还须系铃人fig. whoever started the trouble should end it解鈴還須繫鈴人
须子feelers (zoology)鬚子
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 必须 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 须
Besides meaning 'must' or 'to have to,' 须 can also refer to 'wait' or 'tassel.' Its usage can vary depending on the context, making it a versatile character in the Chinese language.
You can use 须 (xū) in sentences to express necessity, such as in '你须要完成作业' (Nǐ xū yào wánchéng zuòyè), meaning 'You must complete your homework.' It's commonly used in written Chinese and formal speech.
须 (xū) can mean 'must' or 'to have to,' indicating necessity or obligation. It can also refer to 'tassel' in a different context. This character is often used in formal language and expressions.
You can use 须 to express necessity, for example, '你须来这里' (You must come here).
Yes, 须 is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but it is often used in more serious discussions.
Yes, synonyms include 需要 (xūyào - need) and 应该 (yīnggāi - should), but they differ in nuance.
