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March 24, 2026
书(書)shū(shu1)
The character 书 (shū) primarily means 'book' and can also refer to 'letter' or 'document.' It is commonly used in contexts related to writing, reading, and education, as well as indicating written communication such as letters or formal documents.
Strokes4Radical丨Frequency#464DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, books have historically been revered, symbolizing knowledge and wisdom. The character 书 is often associated with the Confucian classics, which are foundational texts in Chinese education.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large book (书) that opens up like a giant mouth. The character's form resembles a book's spine and cover, with the top part suggesting the opening of pages. Think of 'shū' as a 'shoe' that helps you step into the world of knowledge.
Meanings of 书
shū(shu1)
1book
2letter
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 书
书Simplified
書Traditional
4Strokes
丨Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#464Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 书
Podcast: 书
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AI Study Notes for 书
Quick Contrast
书 (shū) vs 本 (běn) — use 书 for general references to books or written materials, while 本 is specifically used for counting or indicating the volume of books.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 书 with other characters like 书信 (shūxìn) meaning 'letter.' Remember that 书 is informal and widely used in everyday language. Additionally, avoid mixing up the measure words; use 本 (běn) for books.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 书 connects to other basic vocabulary related to education and communication, such as 学 (xué, to study) and 写 (xiě, to write). Focus on practicing its use in sentences to reinforce understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 书 with 书信 (shūxìn), which specifically means 'letter.' For example, saying '我写书' (I write a letter) is incorrect; it should be '我写信' (I write a letter).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 书
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Simplified form of 書. Phonosemantic compound. 聿 represents the meaning and 者 represents the sound.
1The giveawayA mark made by a pen ⺺
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 书? 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 书?
Decomposition of 书
IDS Structure⿻？丨
书Full Character
=
丨gun3
outer
Exercise 1 of 1
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 书?
How to say book in Chinese
“book” in Chinese is书shū
The character 书 (shū) primarily means 'book' and can also refer to 'letter' or 'document.' It is commonly used in contexts related to writing, reading, and education, as well as indicating written communication such as letters or formal documents.
When to use 书
Common mistakes include confusing 书 with other characters like 书信 (shūxìn) meaning 'letter.' Remember that 书 is informal and widely used in everyday language. Additionally, avoid mixing up the measure words; use 本 (běn) for books.
书 or something close to it
书 (shū) vs 本 (běn) — use 书 for general references to books or written materials, while 本 is specifically used for counting or indicating the volume of books.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 书 with 书信 (shūxìn), which specifically means 'letter.' For example, saying '我写书' (I write a letter) is incorrect; it should be '我写信' (I write a letter).
Write 书
书
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Practice writing 书 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 书
书 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 7 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.
The idea for this book grew out of conversations with Philippa Brewster.
Exercise 1 of 1
Reorder the Sentence
I like to read books.
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Cultural Notes for 书
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
Unlike in many Western cultures where reading is often seen as a solitary activity, in China, sharing books and knowledge is a communal experience, often fostering discussions within families or groups.
Word Family of 书
Words Containing This Character20
书shūbook書
读书dúshūto study讀書
书记shūjìclerk書記
图书馆túshūguǎnlibrary圖書館
秘书mìshūsecretary秘書
证书zhèngshūcredentials證書
图书túshūbooks (in a library or bookstore)圖書
书面shūmiànin writing書面
书店shūdiànbookstore書店
秘书长secretary-general秘書長
副书记deputy secretary副書記
书籍shūjíbooks書籍
书房shūfángstudio書房
看书to read看書
文书document文書
说明书shuōmíngshū(technical) manual說明書
总书记general secretary (of the Communist Party)總書記
教书to teach (in a school)教書
书写shūxiěto write書寫
书法shūfǎcalligraphy書法
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 书 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 书
In Chinese, the plural is not explicitly shown; 书 can refer to one or many books depending on context.
You can say 写书 (xiě shū), where 写 means 'to write'.
Yes, 书 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in written communication.
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