书 meaning and stroke order
Book; letter; document
How to write 书, stroke by stroke
4 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Meaning of 书
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- book
- letter
- document
- to write
How 书 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A mark made by a pen ⺺.
Radical: 丨 (number one), shared by 11 characters on this site.
How to remember 书
The etymology hint says 书 shows a mark made by a pen. Picture the long vertical stroke 丨 as a pen pressing down, and the curving strokes around it as the ink it leaves on a page, which is how books and letters are made.
书 (shū) on its own usually means a book, and it is very common in compounds about reading, writing, and documents. The measure word for books is 本 (běn). Example: 我在图书馆看书。(Wǒ zài túshūguǎn kàn shū.) I read books at the library.
Common mistake: Learners often write the dot of 书 in the wrong place. It goes at the top right, and it is written last, after the vertical stroke. Also note that 读书 (dúshū) often means to study or attend school, not only to read a specific book.
Common words with 书
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 图书馆 | túshūguǎn | library | HSK 1 |
| 读书 | dúshū | to read a book; to study | HSK 1 |
| 书店 | shūdiàn | bookstore | HSK 1 |
| 书包 | shūbāo | schoolbag; satchel | HSK 1 |
| 书架 | shūjià | bookshelf | HSK 3 |
| 秘书 | mìshū | secretary | HSK 4 |
| 通知书 | tōngzhīshū | written notice | HSK 4 |
| 证书 | zhèngshū | credentials; certificate | HSK 5 |
| 书桌 | shūzhuō | desk | HSK 5 |
| 协议书 | xiéyìshū | contract; protocol | HSK 5 |
| 书法 | shūfǎ | calligraphy; handwriting | HSK 5 |
| 书柜 | shūguì | bookcase | HSK 5 |
| 书房 | shūfáng | study (room); studio | HSK 6 |
| 图书 | túshū | books (in a library or bookstore) | HSK 6 |
书 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 书
How many strokes are in 书?
书 is written with 4 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 书 mean?
书 (shū) means book; letter; document. A common word with it is 图书馆 (túshūguǎn), meaning "library".
How do you pronounce 书?
书 is pronounced shū, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 书?
The radical of 书 is 丨, which carries the idea of "number one". Dictionaries list 书 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 书?
The traditional form of 书 is 書. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 书 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 书 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 书 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
What is the difference between 看书 and 读书?
看书 (kàn shū) means to read a book, usually silently, for study or pleasure. 读书 (dú shū) can mean reading aloud, but it very often means studying or being in school, as in 他还在读书 (tā hái zài dúshū), he is still a student.
Can 书 mean a letter or a document?
Yes. In compounds 书 often means a written document, as in 证书 (zhèngshū) certificate and 通知书 (tōngzhīshū) written notice. For an everyday personal letter, modern speakers usually say 信 (xìn) instead.