Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
吁 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
吁xūshvg, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #23623, Hard
吁xūimplorevg, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #23623, Hard
吁xūhushvg, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #23623, Hard
吁xūto implorevg, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #23623, Hard
吁xūalas; to sighvg, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #23623, Hard
吁yùshvg, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #23623, Hard
吁yùimplorevg, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #23623, Hard
吁yùhushvg, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #23623, Hard
吁yùto implorevg, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #23623, Hard
吁yùalas; to sighvg, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #23623, Hard
xū(xu1)
primary
 T1
  1. 1sh
  2. 2implore
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
吁xū(xu1)

The character 吁 (xū) means to implore or to sigh. It is often used in expressions conveying a sense of urgency or despair, such as seeking someone’s attention or expressing a deep emotional state. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation and might appear more in literary or poetic contexts.

Strokes6Radical口Frequency#23623DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese poetry, expressions of longing and sighing are common, reflecting the cultural appreciation for emotional depth and nuance in language. 吁 captures this sentiment beautifully, making it relevant in literary discussions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person sighing heavily, calling out for help while raising their hands in a pleading manner. The '口' (mouth) radical at the bottom suggests speaking or calling out, while the '余' component can remind you of the sound 'xū,' as in a soft sigh.

Meanings of 吁

xū(xu1)
primary
1sh
2implore
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 吁

吁Simplified
6Strokes
口Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#23623Frequency Rank

Podcast: 吁

JasonAmy

Podcast: 吁

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 吁

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person sighing heavily, calling out for help while raising their hands in a pleading manner. The '口' (mouth) radical at the bottom suggests speaking or calling out, while the '余' component can remind you of the sound 'xū,' as in a soft sigh.

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 吁, as it can sound overly dramatic in casual conversation. It is more appropriate in formal or literary contexts. Learners often confuse it with similar-sounding characters like 叙 (xù), which means to narrate, leading to miscommunication.

HSK Study Tips

Although 吁 is not included in the HSK levels, it is useful for intermediate learners who are expanding their vocabulary with more expressive words. Focus on its emotional connotations and practice using it in context to enhance your fluency.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese poetry, expressions of longing and sighing are common, reflecting the cultural appreciation for emotional depth and nuance in language. 吁 captures this sentiment beautifully, making it relevant in literary discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 吁 with 吁 (yū), which has a different meaning related to calling out. An incorrect usage might be saying 吁 for a simple sigh, when 叹 (tàn) would be more appropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 吁

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 吁 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 吁

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 于 represents the sound. Simplified form of 籲.

Memory Hint

mouth

Semantic (meaning)口
+
Phonetic (sound)于
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 吁?

Decomposition of 吁

IDS Structure⿰口于
吁Full Character
=
口kou3
left
于Yu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 吁?

Write 吁

吁

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 吁

吁 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.

Related grammar lessons1
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

他们呼____当局将蓄奴定为一种应该受到惩罚的罪行。

They called on the authorities to make slavery a punishable offence.

Example Sentences for 吁 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他们呼吁当局将蓄奴定为一种应该受到惩罚的罪行。

tā mén hū xū dāng jú jiāng xù nú dìng wéi yī zhǒng yīng gāi shòu dào chéng fá de zuì háng。

They called on the authorities to make slavery a punishable offence.
2
他呼吁自己的同胞不要丧失信心。

tā hū xū zì jǐ de tóng bāo bù yào sāng shī xìn xīn。

He appealed to his countrymen not to lose heart.
3
他呼吁企业不要过度提高价格。

tā hū xū qǐ yè bù yào guò dù tí gāo jià gé。

He appealed to firms not to increase their prices unduly.
4
在新闻部员工中已经在转发一封电子邮件,呼吁大家自愿裁汰.

zài xīn wén bù yuán gōng zhōng yǐ jīng zài zhuǎn fā yī fēng diàn zǐ yóu jiàn, , hū xū dà jiā zì yuàn cái.

An e-mail is already circulating amongst news staff calling for voluntary redundancies.
5
他呼吁任何看见袭击者的人提供信息。

tā hū xū rèn hé kàn jiàn xí jī zhě de rén tí gōng xìn xī。

He appealed for information from anyone who saw the attackers.
6
不少人呼吁出台新的安全措施。

bù shǎo rén hū xū chū tái xīn de ān quán cuò shī。

There have been calls for a new kind of security arrangement.
7
亚裔英国人发起了一项呼吁消除种族歧视的运动。

yà yì yīng guó rén fā qǐ le yī xiàng hū xū xiāo chú zhǒng zú qí shì de yùn dòng。

British Asians have begun a campaign calling for an end to discrimination.
8
“孩子”，老波普·瑞安气喘吁吁地说。

“ “ hái”， zǐ ”， lǎo· bō pǔ · ruì ān qì chuǎn xū。

"Boy," wheezed old Pop Ryan.
9
她跑完比赛气喘吁吁的。

tā pǎo wán bǐ sài qì chuǎn xū xū de。

She finished the race panting heavily.
10
阿诺德垂着头，一边费劲地往山上爬一边气喘吁吁。

ā nuò dé chuí zháo tóu， ， yī biān fèi jìn dì wǎng shān shàng pá yī biān qì chuǎn xū。

Arnold had his head down, gasping as he toiled up the hill.

Cultural Notes for 吁

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese poetry, expressions of longing and sighing are common, reflecting the cultural appreciation for emotional depth and nuance in language. 吁 captures this sentiment beautifully, making it relevant in literary discussions.

Word Family of 吁

Compounds1
冔
Words Containing This Character8
呼吁hūyùan appeal呼籲
吁xūsh
气喘吁吁to pant氣喘吁吁
长吁短叹long moan and short gasp (idiom); continually moaning and groaning in pain長吁短嘆
气吁吁to pant氣吁吁
吁请to implore籲請
喘吁吁to puff and blow
吁吁to pant
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 呼吁 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 吁

It is pronounced as 'xū' with a high, level tone.