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Word

书 (shū) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 1

书 (shū) is a Chinese word: book. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 书

名 míng noun

book

我喜欢看书。

wǒ xǐ huan kàn shū

I like reading books.

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Word breakdown

书 shū — book

Words with this character (21)
Show more (+16)
  • 6 说明书 shuō míng shū — instruction manual HSK 4
    • 说 to explain, to state
    • 明 clear, to clarify
    • 书 book, document
    Example

    请仔细阅读说明书。

    qǐng zǐ xì yuè dú shuō míng shū

    Please read the instruction manual carefully.

  • 7 书房 shū fáng — study HSK 5
    • 书 book; writing; study
    • 房 room; chamber
    Example

    爸爸在书房工作。

    bà ba zài shū fáng gōng zuò

    Dad is working in the study.

  • 8 书架 shū jià — bookshelf HSK 5
    Example

    我的书架上有很多书。

    wǒ de shū jià shàng yǒu hěn duō shū

    There are many books on my bookshelf.

  • 9 书法 shū fǎ — calligraphy HSK 5
    • 书 writing, script
    • 法 method, technique, art
    Example

    他的书法写得很好。

    tā de shū fǎ xiě de hěn hǎo

    His calligraphy is very well written.

  • 10 图书 tú shū — books HSK 5
    • 图 forms part of the formal compound for books/publications
    • 书 book, written material
    Example

    我喜欢在图书馆看图书。

    wǒ xǐ huan zài tú shū guǎn kàn tú shū

    I like to read books in the library.

  • 11 秘书 mì shū — secretary HSK 5
    • 秘 confidential, private (indicating the trusted nature of the role)
    • 书 documents, writing (indicating the administrative and documentary aspect of the work)
    Example

    她是公司总经理的秘书。

    tā shì gōng sī zǒng jīng lǐ de mì shū

    She is the company's general manager's secretary.

  • 12 证书 zhèng shū — certificate HSK 5
    • 证 proof, verification
    • 书 document, written record
    Example

    她通过考试后获得了专业资格证书。

    tā tōng guò kǎo shì hòu huò dé le zhuān yè zī gé zhèng shū

    After passing the exam, she obtained a professional qualification certificate.

  • 13 书写 shū xiě — to write HSK 6
    • 书 writing, script (formal writing)
    • 写 to write (the action of writing)
    Example

    老师教我们如何书写汉字。

    lǎo shī jiāo wǒ men rú hé shū xiě hàn zì

    The teacher teaches us how to write Chinese characters.

  • 14 书画 shū huà — calligraphy and painting HSK 6
    • 书 calligraphy, the art of writing Chinese characters
    • 画 painting, the art of creating images with brush and ink
    Example

    博物馆里展出了许多名家书画作品。

    bó wù guǎn lǐ zhǎn chū le xǔ duō míng jiā shū huà zuò pǐn

    The museum displays many famous calligraphy and painting works.

  • 15 书籍 shū jí — books HSK 6
    • 书 book, writing
    • 籍 records, registry (adds formality)
    Example

    图书馆里有很多书籍。

    tú shū guǎn lǐ yǒu hěn duō shū jí

    The library has many books.

  • 16 书面 shū miàn — written HSK 6
    • 书 writing, written text
    • 面 form, surface, aspect
    Example

    我需要一份书面报告。

    wǒ xū yào yī fèn shū miàn bào gào

    I need a written report.

  • 17 念书 niàn shū — to study; to attend school HSK 6
    • 念 to read; to recite
    • 书 book
    Example

    我弟弟还在念书。

    wǒ dì di hái zài niàn shū

    My younger brother is still in school.

  • 18 书记 shū jì — secretary HSK 7
    • 书 document, writing (represents official/documented capacity)
    • 记 record, note (represents recording and administrative duties)
    Example

    王书记主持了今天的会议。

    Wáng shū jì zhǔ chí le jīn tiān de huì yì

    Secretary Wang presided over today's meeting.

  • 19 教科书 jiào kē shū — textbook HSK 7
    • 教 teaching, instruction
    • 科 subject, course
    • 书 book
    Example

    学生们需要买新的教科书。

    xué shēng men xū yào mǎi xīn de jiào kē shū

    Students need to buy new textbooks.

  • 20 琴棋书画 qín qí shū huà — music, chess, calligraphy and painting (the four arts) HSK 7
    • 琴 musical instrument (specifically the guqin, a Chinese zither)
    • 棋 board games (specifically weiqi/Go)
    • 书 calligraphy (the art of beautiful writing)
    • 画 painting (the art of creating visual images)
    Example

    他精通琴棋书画，是个全才。

    tā jīng tōng qín qí shū huà shì gè quán cái

    He is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting; he is a true polymath.

  • 21 百科全书 bǎi kē quán shū — encyclopedia HSK 7
    • 百 hundred; represents comprehensive/all branches
    • 科 branch/field/subject of knowledge
    • 全 complete/entire/whole; emphasizes comprehensiveness
    • 书 book; the physical form of the reference work
    Example

    他买了一套新的百科全书。

    tā mǎi le yí tào xīn de bǎi kē quán shū

    He bought a new set of encyclopedias.

Structure & writing
1 书 shū — to write; to record

书 is not used as a component in any other character.

书 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order