Chinese word

书

Pronunciation

Pinyinshū

Meaning

  • nounbook

Example

我在看书。wǒ zài kàn shū

I am reading a book.

Illustration for 书 (book)

More examples

我买了一本书。wǒ mǎi le yì běn shū

I bought a book.

Core concept

A bound set of pages that stores words, stories, or knowledge for reading.

Common phrases

  • 看书kàn shū

    read a book

  • 读书dú shū

    read a book

  • 一本书yì běn shū

    one book

  • 买书mǎi shū

    buy a book

  • 书店shū diàn

    bookstore

Similar words

书本shū běn: A booklet-shaped book made from paper.

Definition in Chinese

指装订成册的纸张集合，用来记载文字、故事或知识的书籍。zhǐ zhuāng dìng chéng cè de zhǐ zhāng jí hé yòng lái jì zǎi wén zì gù shì huò zhī shí de shū jí

Word origin

书 (shū, "book") is the simplified form of 書 (shū, "book"), whose older written sense was connected with writing and then extended to the written work itself.

Usage tips

  • When counting books, Chinese normally uses 本 (běn, "volume"), as in 两本书 (liǎng běn shū, "two books"), rather than the general classifier 个 (gè, "item").

Related words

Word lists with this word