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胥 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
胥xūsurname Xuunknown, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #43620, Very Hard
胥xūall, together, mutuallynr, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #43620, Very Hard
胥xūassistunknown, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #43620, Very Hard
胥xūto storeunknown, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #43620, Very Hard
xū(Xu1) T1
  1. 1surname Xu
  2. 2all, together, mutually
Also a Chinese surname, Xu — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

胥xū(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.

Strokes9Radical⺼Frequency#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

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

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 胥

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

Podcast: 胥

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Podcast: 胥

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AI Study Notes for 胥

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.

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 胥

  1. 1The giveawayA body ⺼ wrapped in cloth 疋
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 胥? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 胥?

Decomposition of 胥

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

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 胥?

How to say surname Xu in Chinese

“surname Xu” in Chinese is胥xū

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.

When to use 胥

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).

What learners get wrong

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.

Write 胥

胥

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 胥

Words Containing This Character3
胥xūall
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.'

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