shū: 书 - Book, Letter, Writing

• Keywords: shū, 书, Chinese word for book, how to say book in Chinese, Chinese character for writing, meaning of 书, letter in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, shū vs běn, learn Chinese book, HSK 1 Chinese words
• Summary: Discover the meaning of shū (书), one of the most fundamental characters in the Chinese language. While its primary translation is “book,” shū encompasses the broader concepts of writing, letters, and the esteemed art of calligraphy. This page explores its cultural significance, practical daily use, and essential nuances, providing a deep dive for any beginner learning Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shū
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: A book, a letter, or a style of writing/calligraphy.
• In a Nutshell: At its heart, 书 (shū) is the word for “book.” However, its meaning extends to represent the entire world of written knowledge and communication. Think of it not just as a physical object, but as the concept of “the written word” itself—from ancient scrolls and personal letters to modern novels and the artistic act of writing.

• 书 (shū): The character 书 is a pictogram. Its ancient form depicted a hand holding a writing brush (聿, yù). Over centuries, it simplified to its modern form. The top part resembles the tip of a brush, and the horizontal line below (曰) originally represented an inkstone or a document. The character's origin is directly tied to the physical act of writing, which is why it means both “writing” and the product of writing, a “book.”

In Chinese culture, 书 (shū) holds a place of profound respect that goes far beyond its simple English translation of “book.” For millennia, literacy and scholarship were the primary paths to social mobility and influence. The scholar-official (文人, wénrén), who mastered classic texts and possessed elegant handwriting, was the ideal gentleman.

• Symbol of Knowledge and Power: Books were not just for entertainment; they were repositories of history, philosophy, and moral wisdom. To “read books” (读书, dúshū) is synonymous with “to study” or “to be educated” and implies a journey of self-cultivation.
• Calligraphy as Art: The “writing” aspect of shū is elevated to a high art form in calligraphy (书法, shūfǎ). Good handwriting was believed to be a reflection of a person's character and discipline.
• Western Comparison: In Western culture, a “book” is often seen as a source of information or a form of entertainment. While also valued, the object itself doesn't carry the same deep-seated cultural reverence as 书. The Chinese concept links the physical book to the moral and intellectual virtue of the reader and the artistic skill of the writer, a connection that is less pronounced in the West. The saying “书中自有黄金屋” (shū zhōng zì yǒu huángjīn wū) – “In books, one can find houses of gold” – perfectly captures this belief that knowledge from books leads to all forms of wealth and success.

书 is an extremely common character used in various contexts.

• As “Book”: This is its most frequent meaning. It's often used in compound words.
  • You read a book: 看书 (kànshū)
  • You buy a book at a 书店 (shūdiàn), a bookstore.
  • You borrow a book from a 图书馆 (túshūguǎn), a library.
  • Note: When counting books, you must use the measure word 本 (běn). See “Nuances and Common Mistakes” below.
• As “Letter”: This usage is more formal or literary and typically appears in specific compound words. The more common, everyday word for a mail letter is 信 (xìn).
  • 情书 (qíngshū): love letter
  • 家书 (jiāshū): a letter from/to home
  • 保证书 (bǎozhèngshū): a letter of guarantee; a pledge
• As “Writing” or “Calligraphy”: This meaning relates to the art and style of writing characters.
  • 书法 (shūfǎ): calligraphy
  • 楷书 (kǎishū): regular script (a style of calligraphy)
  • 草书 (cǎoshū): cursive script (“grass script”)

• Example 1:
  • 我喜欢看书。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xǐhuān kàn shū.
  • English: I like to read books.
  • Analysis: A fundamental sentence for any beginner. 看书 (kànshū) literally means “to look at a book” and is the most common way to say “to read.”
• Example 2:
  • 这是一本很有意思的书。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yī běn hěn yǒuyìsi de shū.
  • English: This is a very interesting book.
  • Analysis: This example shows the essential use of the measure word 本 (běn) for counting books. You cannot say “一个书 (yī gè shū)”.
• Example 3:
  • 书店在什么地方？
  • Pinyin: Shūdiàn zài shénme dìfāng?
  • English: Where is the bookstore?
  • Analysis: 书店 (shūdiàn) is a compound word: 书 (shū) “book” + 店 (diàn) “store”.
• Example 4:
  • 他正在学习中国书法。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhèngzài xuéxí Zhōngguó shūfǎ.
  • English: He is learning Chinese calligraphy.
  • Analysis: Here, 书 is part of 书法 (shūfǎ), referring to the art of writing.
• Example 5:
  • 我给妈妈写了一封家书。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gěi māmā xiěle yī fēng jiāshū.
  • English: I wrote a letter home to my mom.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of 书 to mean “letter” in the compound 家书 (jiāshū). Note the measure word for letters is 封 (fēng).
• Example 6:
  • 这本书是谁的？
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū shì shéi de?
  • English: Whose book is this?
  • Analysis: A simple possessive question, again reinforcing the use of the measure word 本 (běn).
• Example 7:
  • 他的桌子上堆满了书。
  • Pinyin: Tā de zhuōzi shàng duī mǎnle shū.
  • English: His desk is piled high with books.
  • Analysis: Shows the plural usage of 书. In Chinese, nouns don't change form for plurals; the context makes it clear.
• Example 8:
  • 你在书包里放了什么？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zài shūbāo lǐ fàngle shénme?
  • English: What did you put in your schoolbag/backpack?
  • Analysis: 书包 (shūbāo) is another common compound: 书 (shū) “book” + 包 (bāo) “bag”.
• Example 9:
  • 读书使人明智。
  • Pinyin: Dúshū shǐ rén míngzhì.
  • English: Reading books makes people wise.
  • Analysis: This is a common saying (chengyu). 读书 (dúshū) here means more than just reading; it means “studying” or “acquiring knowledge through texts.”
• Example 10:
  • 这是我最喜欢的书之一。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒ zuì xǐhuān de shū zhī yī.
  • English: This is one of my favorite books.
  • Analysis: A useful structure for expressing preferences, “……之一 (…zhī yī)” means “one of…”.

• 书 (shū) vs. 本 (běn): This is the most common mistake for beginners. 书 (shū) is the noun for “book.” 本 (běn) is the measure word used to count books. You cannot “have one 书”; you “have one 本 书”.
  • Correct: 我有一本书。 (Wǒ yǒu yī běn shū.) - I have one book.
  • Incorrect: ~~我有一个书。~~ (Wǒ yǒu yī gè shū.)
• 书 (shū) vs. 信 (xìn): For a general “letter” that you mail, the modern, standard word is 信 (xìn). While 书 can mean letter, it's usually found in specific, slightly more formal or literary compounds like 情书 (qíngshū) (love letter) or 家书 (jiāshū) (home letter). If you're just writing a letter to a friend, you would say 你写信 (nǐ xiě xìn).
• 看书 (kànshū) vs. 读书 (dúshū): Both can mean “to read a book.”
  • 看书 (kànshū) is more literal and casual, meaning “to look at a book.” It's used for reading for pleasure.
  • 读书 (dúshū) implies a more serious purpose, meaning “to study” or “to attend school.” If someone asks “你在哪儿读书？” (Nǐ zài nǎ'er dúshū?), they are asking “Where do you go to school/university?”, not “Where do you read your books?”.

• 看书 (kànshū) - To read a book (casually, for pleasure).
• 读书 (dúshū) - To read books; to study; to attend school. More formal and implies learning.
• 书店 (shūdiàn) - Bookstore.
• 图书馆 (túshūguǎn) - Library.
• 书法 (shūfǎ) - Calligraphy; the art of writing.
• 教科书 (jiàokēshū) - Textbook.
• 笔记本 (bǐjìběn) - Notebook (literally “pen-record-book”).
• 本 (běn) - The essential measure word for books and other bound items.
• 信 (xìn) - The most common modern word for “letter”.
• 文学 (wénxué) - Literature; the broader field of which 书 are the medium.