抒 meaning and stroke order
To express; to pour out
How to write 抒, stroke by stroke
7 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 抒
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to express
- to give expression to
- variant of 紓|纾[shu1]
- to relieve
How 抒 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Give.
予 gives the meaning and 扌 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 抒
抒 combines the hand 扌 with 予, which carries the idea of "give". Picture your hand giving out what is inside you, pouring your feelings out for others to see.
抒 is a formal, literary verb used for expressing feelings, not facts. It appears mostly in set words like 抒情 (shūqíng, to express emotion; lyric) and 抒发 (shūfā, to give vent to). Example: 这首诗抒发了思乡之情。(Zhè shǒu shī shūfā le sīxiāng zhī qíng.) This poem expresses homesickness.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 抒 with 舒 (shū, comfortable, relaxed), which has the same sound and also contains 予. Remember that 抒 has the hand 扌 because you actively push feelings out, while 舒 is about ease, as in 舒服 (shūfu).
Common words with 抒
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 抒情 | shūqíng | to express emotion; lyric | HSK 7-9 |
抒 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 抒
How many strokes are in 抒?
抒 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 抒 mean?
抒 (shū) means to express; to pour out. A common word with it is 抒情 (shūqíng), meaning "to express emotion; lyric".
How do you pronounce 抒?
抒 is pronounced shū, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 抒?
The radical of 抒 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 抒 under this radical.
Is 抒 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 抒 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 抒发 and 表达?
表达 (biǎodá) is the everyday word for expressing anything, such as ideas, opinions, or thanks. 抒发 is literary and is used almost only for emotions, especially strong or poetic ones.
What does 抒情 mean when describing music or writing?
Used as a descriptor, 抒情 means lyrical or emotional in style. For example, 抒情歌曲 (shūqíng gēqǔ) is a lyrical, sentimental song, and 抒情诗 (shūqíng shī) is lyric poetry.