Meaning of 束
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to bind
- bunch
- bundle
- classifier for bunches, bundles, beams of light etc
- to control
- surname Shu
How to use 束
As a classifier, 束 counts bunches of flowers and beams of light. As a verb part, it shows up in words like 结束 (jiéshù, to end) and 约束 (yuēshù, to restrict). Example: 他送我一束花。(Tā sòng wǒ yí shù huā.) He gave me a bunch of flowers.
束 (shù) looks like a tree 木 (mù) with a loop 口 tied around its middle. Picture a bundle of sticks held together by a cord, and you have "to bind" and "a bundle."
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 束 (shù) with 東/东 (dōng, east), which also looks like 木 with something in the middle. 束 has a small 口 box, while 東 has a larger 日 box. Also remember the tone is fourth tone shù, not shǔ.
束 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
束 shù · to bind · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Related words
Words that share a character with 束.
| 结束 | jiéshù | to end; to finish; to conclude |
| 约束 | yuēshù | to restrict; to limit to |
| 束缚 | shùfù | to bind; to tie up; to fetter; to shackle |
| 拘束 | jūshù | to restrict; to restrain |
| 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 |
Questions about 束
What does 束 mean?
束 (shù) means "to bind; bunch" and is used as a measure word.
How do you write 束?
束 is made of 1 character: 束 (7 strokes). That is 7 strokes in total.
Is 束 an HSK word?
Yes. 束 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 一束花 and 一朵花?
一束花 (yí shù huā) is a bunch or bouquet of flowers tied together. 一朵花 (yì duǒ huā) is a single flower or blossom.
Why does 结束 mean "to end" if 束 means "to bind"?
结 (jié) means to tie a knot, so 结束 originally suggests tying things up and wrapping them up. Today it simply means to finish or conclude, as in 会议结束了 (huìyì jiéshù le, the meeting is over).