束 meaning and stroke order
To bind; bunch; bundle
How to write 束, 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.
- 1
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- 3
- 4
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- 7
Meaning of 束
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to bind
- bunch
- bundle
- classifier for bunches, bundles, beams of light etc
- to control
How 束 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Lumber 木 bound by rope 口.
Radical: 木 (tree), shared by 388 characters on this site.
How to remember 束
Picture a piece of wood 木 with a loop of rope 口 tied around its middle. Wood bound by rope gives you 束 (shù): to bind, or a bundle.
On its own, 束 is mostly a classifier for bunches and beams, like flowers or light. In compounds it means binding or limiting, and the most common word is 结束 (jiéshù), to end. Example: 我买了一束花。(Wǒ mǎi le yí shù huā.) I bought a bunch of flowers.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 束 (shù) with 東/东 (dōng, east), which looks similar but has 日 inside instead of 口. Also remember that 束 is fourth tone, so 结束 is jiéshù, not jiéshū.
Common words with 束
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 结束 | jiéshù | to end; to finish; to conclude | HSK 3 |
| 约束 | yuēshù | to restrict; to limit to | HSK 5 |
| 束缚 | shùfù | to bind; to tie up; to fetter; to shackle | HSK 7-9 |
| 拘束 | jūshù | to restrict; to restrain | HSK 7-9 |
| 束手无策 | shùshǒuwúcè | lit. to have one's hands bound and be unable to do anything about it (idiom); fig. helples | |
| 光束 | guāngshù | light beam | |
| 装束 | zhuāngshù | attire; clothing | |
| 无拘无束 | wújūwúshù | free and unconstrained (idiom); unfettered; unbuttoned | |
| 束手就擒 | shùshǒujiùqín | (lit.) to submit to having one's hands tied and being taken prisoner (idiom); (fig.) to su | |
| 花束 | huāshù | bouquet |
束 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 束
Learning 束 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 束
How many strokes are in 束?
束 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 束 mean?
束 (shù) means to bind; bunch; bundle. A common word with it is 结束 (jiéshù), meaning "to end; to finish; to conclude".
How do you pronounce 束?
束 is pronounced shù, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 束?
The radical of 束 is 木, which carries the idea of "tree". Dictionaries list 束 under this radical.
Is 束 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 束 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 结束 and 完?
结束 (jiéshù) means an event or period comes to an end, as in 会议结束了 (huìyì jiéshù le), the meeting is over. 完 (wán) usually follows a verb to show an action is finished, as in 吃完 (chī wán), finish eating.
Does 拘束 always mean restrict?
In everyday speech 拘束 (jūshù) often describes feeling awkward or ill at ease, as in 别拘束 (bié jūshù), make yourself at home. Its opposite in spirit is the idiom 无拘无束 (wújūwúshù), free and unconstrained.