秀 Stroke Order — How to Write 秀
秀 is written in 7 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 禾, 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.
秀 Radical and Character Components
flower.
Radical: 禾 + 2 more strokes
秀 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- xiù
Meanings of 秀 in Chinese
1
xiù秀
When 'xiù' (秀) refers to plants producing ears or flowers, often describing crops. Figuratively, 'xiù ér bù shí' (秀而不实) describes someone who is intelligent but fails to achieve practical results.
他虽然聪明，但总是秀而不实，让人觉得很可惜。
Although he is intelligent, he always shows promise without yielding practical results, which makes people feel it's a great pity.
Outstanding, excellent; also refers to an exceptionally talented person.
她是一位非常优秀的科学家。
She is a very outstanding scientist.
Elegant, graceful, and refined; beautiful without being vulgar or overly ornate.
这片湖光山色真是秀丽，让人心旷神怡。
This landscape of lakes and mountains is truly beautiful and graceful, making one feel refreshed and joyful.
In Yuan and Ming dynasties, 'xiù' referred to sons of noble or wealthy families. It is now primarily used in the idiom '不郎不秀' (bù láng bù xiù), meaning unaccomplished, lacking promise, or not fitting in.
他整天游手好闲，什么正经事都不做，真是个不郎不秀的家伙。
He idles all day, doing nothing serious; he's truly an unaccomplished fellow.
To grow luxuriantly; to flourish (especially of plants or crops).
田园风光，禾苗秀穗，一派生机勃勃的景象。
A pastoral scene, where grain sprouts flourish, presenting a picture of vibrant life.
performance; show (e.g., fashion show, stage show)
这场时装秀吸引了大量观众。
This fashion show attracted a large audience.
Common Words and Phrases with 秀
1
A scholar who passed the county-level imperial examination in imperial China (especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties); broadly, a scholar.
那个村子的秀才们经常聚在一起讨论诗词歌赋。
The scholars of that village often gathered to discuss poetry and prose.
2
graceful and intelligent
她的女儿不仅长得漂亮，而且秀慧过人，深得大家喜爱。
Her daughter is not only beautiful but also exceptionally elegant and intelligent, earning everyone's affection.
3
performer circles or the entertainment industry
她在秀界奋斗多年，终于凭借出色的演技赢得了观众的喜爱和认可。
After years of hard work in the entertainment industry, she finally won the love and recognition of the audience with her outstanding acting skills.
4
pretty and handsome; beautiful and elegant in appearance
舞台上的演员们身姿秀俊，表演精彩绝伦。
The actors on stage, with their graceful and handsome postures, delivered a wonderfully brilliant performance.
5
beautiful and elegant
这里的山水风光秀丽，令人流连忘返。
The natural scenery here is exquisitely beautiful, making people want to linger.
6
graceful and beautiful
这里的自然风光秀美，吸引了许多游客
The natural scenery here is beautiful and graceful, attracting many tourists.
7
Delicate, elegant, and refined, often describing a person's appearance or manner, or an object's exquisite and well-made quality.
她的容貌清秀，举止也很秀气，给人留下深刻的印象。
Her appearance is delicate and her manners are also graceful, leaving a deep impression on people.
8
Pretty and smooth; delicate and lustrous.
江南的山水总是那么秀润，让人心旷神怡。
The landscapes of Jiangnan are always so delicate and lustrous, making one feel refreshed and joyful.
9
beautiful scenery or good looks (especially of a woman)
她的秀色，如清晨的露珠般晶莹剔透，令人赞叹。
Her lovely complexion, like crystal clear morning dew, is truly admirable.
10
beautiful in appearance and intelligent within; attractive in appearance and intelligent
她的表演既展现了扎实的专业功底，也流露出她秀外慧中的独特气质。
Her performance not only demonstrated solid professional skills but also revealed her unique temperament of outer beauty and inner intelligence.
11
beautiful and elegant; graceful and refined
她的舞姿秀雅，仿佛轻盈的蝴蝶在花丛中翩跹起舞。
Her dance movements are elegant and graceful, as if a light butterfly is fluttering among the flowers.
12
extremely outstanding; exceptionally excellent
他在众多选手中表现秀异，脱颖而出。
His performance was outstanding among numerous competitors, making him stand out.
13
Elegant and graceful.
她的舞姿轻盈秀逸，令人陶醉。
Her dance moves are light and ethereal, captivating the audience.
More words with 秀
- guī闺xiù秀Cultured young lady, Daughter of a distinguished family
- jìng竞xiù秀Vying for beauty, Compete in splendor
- juān娟xiù秀delicate and pretty, graceful
- jùn俊xiù秀Handsome and refined in appearance.
- tǐng挺xiù秀Stately, Graceful and erect
- sháo韶xiù秀splendid and elegant, radiant beauty
- zhuó擢xiù秀select the outstanding, promote the talented
- xiù秀fà发beautiful hair, lustrous hair
- yōu优xiù秀excellent, outstanding
- qīng清xiù秀delicate, graceful
- yōu優xiù秀excellent, outstanding
- xīn新xiù秀rookie, newcomer
- gèng更yōu优xiù秀better, more excellent
- shí时zhuāng装xiù秀fashion show, runway show
- xiù秀suì穗Earing, Heading
- yōu优xiù秀rén人cái才Talented individuals, Top talent
- dēng灯guāng光xiù秀light show
- jùn隽xiù秀elegant, graceful
- tuō脱kǒu口xiù秀talk show, stand-up comedy
- yōu优xiù秀xué学shēng生Excellent student, Outstanding student
Idioms with 秀
- xiù秀cai才rén人qíng情A scholar's meager but heartfelt gift
- xiù秀cai才zào造fǎn反Intellectuals' ineffective rebellion
- xiù秀ér而bù不shí实showy but without substance
- xiù秀sè色kě可cān餐exquisitely beautiful, a feast for the eyes
- bǐ笔lǎo老mò墨xiù秀masterful brushwork and elegant ink
- dà大jiā家guī闺xiù秀young lady from a prominent family
- hòu后lái来zhī之xiù秀promising young talent
- hòu后qǐ起zhī之xiù秀a promising young talent
- jīng精cǎi采xiù秀fā发full of vigor and radiance
- juān娟hǎo好jìng静xiù秀graceful, beautiful, quiet, and refined
- méi眉qīng清mù目xiù秀delicate features and bright eyes
- qiān千yán岩jìng竞xiù秀magnificent picturesque mountainous landscape
Recommended tools
Writing Worksheets
Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
Open the tool →
Bingo Cards
Picture and word Bingo for your class
Open the tool →
Character Highlight Animator
Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
Open the tool →
Chinese Text Image Generator
Create PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
Open the tool →Questions about 秀
What does 秀 mean in Chinese?
秀 (xiù) means “Outstanding, excellent” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 秀?
秀 is pronounced xiù in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 秀 have?
秀 has 7 strokes.
How do you write 秀?
秀 is written in 7 strokes, starting from the radical 禾. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 秀?
The radical of 秀 is 禾, and 秀 is a phono-semantic compound.