束 Stroke Order — How to Write 束
束 is written in 7 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 木, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
束 Radical and Character Components
束 is an ideographic compound. Lumber 木 bound by rope 口.
Radical: 木 + 3 more strokes
束 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- shù
Meanings of 束 in Chinese
1
shù束
To bind, tie, or fasten; to restrain; to gather or pack; can also refer to a bundle.
面对突发情况，他感到束手无策
Facing the sudden situation, he felt completely helpless.
Classifier for things bundled together, such as a bundle of dried meat (束修, originally a gift from students to teachers, later referring to remuneration for teachers).
她手里拿着一束鲜花，准备送给老师。
She held a bunch of flowers in her hand, ready to give them to the teacher.
A bundle or beam of something, such as light or electrons.
舞台上，一束强光照亮了演员
On the stage, a powerful beam of light illuminated the actor.
To control or restrict; to bind or tie up. Often used in expressions like 'without restraint' or 'to discipline oneself'.
他喜欢无拘无束的生活。
He enjoys an unconstrained life.
To conclude an event or task.
会议在下午五点准时结束。
The meeting concluded promptly at 5 PM.
Common Words and Phrases with 束
1
A belt or sash, typically worn as part of traditional or formal attire.
准备上场前，演员仔细束带，让戏服看起来更加精神。
Before going on stage, the actor carefully fastened their sash, making the costume appear more vibrant and neat.
2
To tie up one's hair; figuratively, it refers to the age of coming of age, typically 15 to 20 years old, when one traditionally started tying up their hair.
这位学者在束发之年便展现出非凡的智慧与求知欲。
This scholar displayed extraordinary wisdom and a thirst for knowledge during his adolescence (the age of tying hair).
3
to tie up, bind, or restrain/restrict
他不喜欢被传统束缚，总是追求创新
He doesn't like to be bound by tradition, always pursuing innovation.
4
To restrain oneself; self-restraint. Also, to pledge allegiance.
他从小就严格束身，养成了勤俭节约的好习惯
From a young age, he strictly disciplined himself, developing good habits of diligence and frugality.
5
to have one's hands tied; helpless; unable to do anything
面对复杂的谜题，他感到束手无策。
Facing the complex puzzle, he felt utterly helpless.
6
To allow oneself to be captured without resistance; to wait for capture with tied hands.
经过一番激烈的追逐，小偷最终因为体力不支而束手就擒。
After a fierce chase, the thief finally surrendered without resistance due to exhaustion.
7
Helpless and at a loss for what to do.
当项目遇到技术瓶颈时，团队成员都感到束手无策，急需外部专家的帮助。
When the project encountered a technical bottleneck, the team members all felt at a loss, urgently needing help from external experts.
8
narrow, constricted (especially referring to a waterway)
这条河流的下游河道变得束狭，船只通行需格外小心。
The downstream channel of this river has become narrow, requiring extreme caution for boats to pass.
9
a traditional gift or payment, often dried meat, given to a teacher or private tutor as tuition in ancient China.
在古代，学生入学时常常会向老师奉上束脩，以示敬意。
In ancient times, students often presented 'shùxiū' to their teachers upon enrollment, as a token of respect.
10
to cinch or tighten the waist, often for a more slender appearance
为了参加舞会，她特意穿上了束腰的礼服，显得身材玲珑有致
To attend the ball, she specifically wore a corset dress, making her figure appear graceful and shapely.
11
To put something away on a high shelf and neglect it, implying it is no longer used or attended to.
这份精心准备的企划案，由于公司战略调整，最终只能束之高阁了。
Due to the company's strategic adjustments, this carefully prepared project proposal ultimately had to be shelved.
12
to pack one's things; to get one's things ready for a journey
他准备明天一早就出发，所以今晚早早地束装起来。
He plans to set off early tomorrow morning, so he packed his bags early tonight.
More words with 束
- yuē约shù束Constraint, Restriction
- wéi维guǎn管shù束vascular bundle
- jiǎn检shù束regulate; restrain oneself
- jié结shù束end, finish
- yí一shù束a bunch, a beam
- shù束jǐn紧tighten, fasten
- shù束qǐ起tie up, bind up
- guāng光shù束beam, light beam
- guǎn管shù束discipline, restrain
- shōu收shù束conclude, finish
- jī激guāng光shù束laser beam
- qiáng强guāng光shù束strong beam, high beam
- jié结shù束shí时at the end, when it ends
- jié结shù束yǔ语conclusion, closing remarks
- nà那shù束that bundle, that bunch
- shù束bīng兵restrain soldiers, disarm soldiers
- shù束zhù住bind, tie up
- huó活dòng动jié结shù束Event over, Event ended
- zhuāng装shù束attire, outfit
- zì自wǒ我yuē约shù束self-discipline, self-control
Idioms with 束
- shù束shǒu手dài待bì毙sit by idly and await defeat
- shù束shǒu手shù束jiǎo脚overly cautious and hesitant
- wú无jū拘wú无shù束unrestrained and carefree
- shù束jiān肩liǎn敛xī息draw in shoulders and hold breath
- shù束jiào教guǎn管wén闻shallow knowledge and narrow experience
- shù束mǎ马xiàn县chē车treacherous mountain journey
- shù束shēn身shòu受mìng命submit to authority and obey orders
- shù束shēn身zì自xiū修discipline oneself and maintain integrity
- shù束shǒu手dài待sǐ死await death with folded hands
- shù束shǒu手fù缚jiǎo脚constrained by scruples
- shù束shǒu手jiù就bì毙passively await one's doom
- shù束shǒu手jiù就fù缚surrender without a fight
Recommended tools
Chinese Text Image Generator
Create PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
Open the tool →
Bingo Cards
Picture and word Bingo for your class
Open the tool →
Stroke Order Animator
Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
Open the tool →
Writing Worksheets
Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
Open the tool →Questions about 束
What does 束 mean in Chinese?
束 (shù) means “To bind, tie, or fasten” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 束?
束 is pronounced shù in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 束 have?
束 has 7 strokes.
How do you write 束?
束 is written in 7 strokes, starting from the radical 木. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 束?
The radical of 束 is 木, and 束 is an ideographic compound.
