书 Stroke Order — How to Write 书
书 is written in 4 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 丨, 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.
书 Radical and Character Components
Partial breakdown of 书:丨
书 is an ideographic compound. A mark made by a pen ⺺.
Radical: 丨 + 3 more strokes
书 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- shū
Meanings of 书 in Chinese
1
shū书
A bound work (book, publication, manuscript). It also refers to scholarly qualities, like a refined demeanor or impractical bookishness.
图书馆里弥漫着淡淡的书香，让人感到心旷神怡。
The faint fragrance of books pervades the library, making people feel refreshed and delighted.
letter; correspondence
他们之间经常有书信往来
They often exchange letters.
A document, such as a certificate or a manual.
使用前请仔细阅读说明书。
Please read the manual carefully before use.
Writing or written characters; often appears in phrases related to calligraphy, the act of writing, writing desks, or traditional painting.
他的书法非常漂亮，每次书写都像艺术品。
His calligraphy is very beautiful; every time he writes, it's like a work of art.
To write (an article, book) or describe something in written form.
他用生动的笔触书写了故乡的变迁。
He used vivid strokes to describe the changes in his hometown.
A style or script of Chinese calligraphy, such as regular script (楷书), cursive script (草书), or clerical script (隶书).
这位书法家擅长多种书体，尤其是草书。
This calligrapher is skilled in various calligraphic styles, especially cursive script.
An ancient book, an abbreviation for 'Shang Shu' (also known as 'Shu Jing'), a classic historical text.
《尚书》是中国古代重要的历史典籍。
The 'Shang Shu' is an important historical classic from ancient China.
A general term for certain forms of folk art, such as storytelling or recitals.
每逢周末，公园里都会有老人聚在一起听书
Every weekend, old people gather in the park to listen to storytelling.
Common Words and Phrases with 书
1
A writing desk or a long desk.
他在书案前专心致志地研读古籍，笔墨纸砚整齐地摆放着。
He intently studied ancient books at his writing desk, with his brush, ink, paper, and inkstone neatly arranged.
2
A bag, usually made of cloth or leather, used by students to carry books and stationery.
小明把所有的书都放进了他的新书包里。
Xiao Ming put all his books into his new schoolbag.
3
books and newspapers
他经常去图书馆借阅各种书报，丰富自己的知识。
He often goes to the library to borrow various books and newspapers to enrich his knowledge.
4
5
Words cannot fully express all that one wishes to say.
与你分别后，心中感慨万千，书不尽言，只盼下次相聚能畅谈。
After we parted ways, my heart was filled with a myriad of emotions. Words fail to express them all; I only hope we can have a good talk when we next meet.
6
A bound volume of books; a collection of books.
她从书架上取下一本古老的书册，开始阅读
She took an ancient book from the bookshelf and began to read.
7
A person who is extremely fond of or addicted to reading; a bookworm.
我的邻居是一位真正的书痴，他的房间里堆满了各种书籍。
My neighbor is a true bookworm; his room is piled high with all sorts of books.
8
A person who is excessively focused on academic study or books and often lacks practical skills or social adeptness; a bookworm.
他是个十足的书呆子，除了书本上的知识，对现实生活中的许多事情都一窍不通。
He is a complete bookworm; besides knowledge from books, he is clueless about many things in real life.
9
To write an epitaph or text on a stele with red ink before it is carved.
碑文书丹完毕，雕刻师便开始按照朱迹精细凿刻，力求还原书家笔意
Once the inscription was written on the stele with a vermilion pen, the carver meticulously chiseled it according to the red marks, aiming to perfectly reproduce the calligrapher's brushwork.
10
A bookend is a support placed at the end of a row of books to hold them upright.
我用一对造型独特的书档把书架上的文学作品整理得整整齐齐。
I used a pair of uniquely shaped bookends to keep the literary works on the bookshelf neatly organized.
11
classics or ancient texts
这部古老的书典蕴含着丰富的历史知识和文化智慧。
This ancient book of classics contains rich historical knowledge and cultural wisdom.
12
A shop or store where books are sold.
我喜欢在周末去书店看书。
I like to go to the bookstore to read on weekends.
13
letters or documents
他喜欢在闲暇时翻阅家中的旧书牍。
He enjoys perusing old letters at home during his leisure time.
14
bookworm
这本珍贵的古籍被书蠹蛀蚀得千疮百孔，令人心痛。
This precious ancient book was riddled with holes by bookworms, which is heartbreaking.
15
Calligraphy; the art of writing, especially the art of writing Chinese characters with a brush.
他从小就对书法很感兴趣，经常练习。
He has been very interested in calligraphy since childhood and practices it often.
More words with 书
- kǎi楷shū书Regular Script
- zhèng证shū书certificate, diploma
- bó帛shū书A book or document written on silk.
- chāo抄shū书copy a book, transcribe a book
- cí辞shū书dictionary, lexicon
- hūn婚shū书Marriage certificate, Marriage contract
- niàn念shū书to study; to read books
- pìn聘shū书Letter of appointment, Appointment letter
- shàng尚shū书Book of Documents, Classic of History
- yàng样shū书Sample copy, Proof copy
- yùn韵shū书rhyme dictionary, rime book
- cáng藏shū书book collection, collect books
- dú读shū书To read books; to study.
- fén焚shū书Book burning
- mì秘shu书secretary
- qín琴shū书Guqin and books, Music and literature
- shǐ史shū书history book, historical records
- zhuàn篆shū书Seal Script, Zhuanshu
- cān参kǎo考shū书reference book
- dīng钉shū书dīng钉Staple
Idioms with 书
- shū书shēng生zhī之jiàn见impractical scholar's view
- shū书shēng声láng琅láng琅sound of reading aloud, clear and resonant
- shū书shēng声lǎng朗lǎng朗clear and resonant sound of reading
- shū书xiāng香mén门dì第scholarly or literary family
- shū书xiāng香rén人jiā家scholarly family
- shū书xiāng香shì世jiā家scholarly family for generations
- shū书xiāng香tóng铜xiù臭scholarly refinement and commercialism
- bái白miàn面shū书shēng生inexperienced scholar lacking practical knowledge
- bì闭mén门dú读shū书study diligently in seclusion
- bǐng秉bǐ笔zhí直shū书write truthfully and impartially
- bó博lǎn览qún群shū书widely read, extensively knowledgeable
- dà大shū书tè特shū书write about with great emphasis
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Open the tool →Questions about 书
What does 书 mean in Chinese?
书 (shū) means “A bound work (book” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 书?
书 is pronounced shū in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 书 have?
书 has 4 strokes.
How do you write 书?
书 is written in 4 strokes, starting from the radical 丨. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 书?
The radical of 书 is 丨, and 书 is an ideographic compound.
