HSK · Level 8
135 words
Chinese word
许
Pronunciation
Pinyinxǔ
Meaning
- verblet
Example
我不许你这样做。wǒ bù xǔ nǐ zhè yàng zuò
I won't let you do that.
More examples
妈妈许孩子周末去朋友家玩。mā mā xǔ hái zi zhōu mò qù péng yǒu jiā wán
Mom lets her child go to a friend's house to play on weekends.
Core concept
A decision opens the way for a person, action, or fact to be accepted.
Common phrases
不许带手机bù xǔ dài shǒu jī
not allow bringing phones
许孩子外出xǔ hái zi wài chū
let children go out
Similar words
可以ké yǐ: Show in everyday speech that an action is possible or permitted.
允许yún xǔ: Clearly permit an action or accept a request.
许可xú kě: Grant official permission through a formal procedure or permit.
同意tóng yì: Agree to and accept a proposal or request.
Definition in Chinese
通过口头或书面表示允许或承认，使某行为、请求或事实被接纳的动词。tōng guò kǒu tóu huò shū miàn biǎo shì yún xǔ huò chéng rèn shǐ mǒu xíng wéi qǐng qiú huò shì shí bèi jiē nà de dòng cí
Word origin
许 (xǔ, "to allow") is a phono-semantic character formed from 讠 (yán, "speech") + 午 (wǔ, "noon"), where 讠 points to permission expressed in words and 午 supplies the sound.
Usage tips
- In conversation, 可以 (kěyǐ, "can; may") and 行 (xíng, "okay") often sound more natural for a simple yes, while this verb suits a stated rule or boundary.