書

See also: 书, 畫, and 晝

書 U+66F8, 書 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-66F8 ← 曷 [U+66F7] CJK Unified Ideographs 曹 → [U+66F9]

書 U+2F8CC, 書 CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-2F8CC ← 旣 [U+2F8CB] CJK Compatibility Ideographs Supplement 晉 → [U+2F8CD]

Translingual

Stroke order

Han character

書 (Kangxi radical 73, 曰+6, 10 strokes, cangjie input 中土日 (LGA), four-corner 5060₁, composition ⿳𦘒一曰)

Derived characters

• 圕 晝(昼) 𫫒 𪳛 𬣄 𦥌 𭓙 𡳩 𤾭 𮓎 𦘢 𬁫 𭨡 𦧶 𤾳 𢅺 𢆅 𣍚 𣍜 𬮑 𦶕 𨃲

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 502, character 12
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 14294
• Dae Jaweon: page 874, character 18
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 1509, character 9
• Unihan data for U+66F8

• Unihan data for U+2F8CC

Chinese

trad.		書
simp.		书
alternative forms		𦘠 𰭽

書 (1)

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 書
Western Zhou	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Bronze inscriptions	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Characters in the same phonetic series (者) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
觰	*rtaːʔ, *rtaː
諸	*tjaː, *tja
者	*tjaːʔ
堵	*tjaːʔ, *taːʔ
赭	*tjaːʔ
撦	*l̥ʰjaːʔ
扯	*tʰjaːʔ
闍	*djaː, *taː
奢	*hljaː
鍺	*toːlʔ
都	*taː
醏	*taː
覩	*taːʔ
睹	*taːʔ
暏	*taːʔ
賭	*taːʔ
帾	*taːʔ
楮	*taːʔ, *tʰaʔ
屠	*daː, *da
瘏	*daː
廜	*daː
鷵	*daː
緒	*ljaʔ
豬	*ta
猪	*ta
瀦	*ta
藸	*ta, *da
櫫	*ta
褚	*taʔ, *tʰaʔ
著	*taʔ, *tas, *da, *taɡ, *daɡ
箸	*tas, *das
儲	*da
躇	*da
櫧	*tja
藷	*tja, *djas
蠩	*tja
煮	*tjaʔ
渚	*tjaʔ
煑	*tjaʔ
陼	*tjaʔ
翥	*tjas
署	*djas
薯	*djas
曙	*djas
書	*hlja
暑	*hjaʔ
鐯	*taɡ
擆	*taɡ
櫡	*taɡ

Phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, OC *hlja): semantic 聿 (“writing brush”) + phonetic 者 (OC *tjaːʔ).

Etymology

Unknown (Schuessler, 2007).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): shū (shu¹)

  (Zhuyin): ㄕㄨ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): su¹

  (Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): fǔ

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): фу (fu, I)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): syu¹

  (Dongguan, Jyutping++): syu¹

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): si¹

• Gan (Wiktionary): xy¹
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): sû

  (Hailu, HRS): shu^ˋ

  (Meixian, Guangdong): su¹

• Jin (Wiktionary): su¹
• Northern Min (KCR): sṳ́
• Eastern Min (BUC): cṳ̆
• Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): zy¹ / sy¹
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): chu / chir / su / sir / si

  (Teochew, Peng'im): ze¹

  (Leizhou, Leizhou Pinyin): zu¹ / xi¹

• Southern Pinghua (Nanning, Jyutping++): syu¹
• Wu (Wugniu)
  • (Northern): ¹sy / ¹siu / ¹syu / ¹shiu
  • (Jinhua): ¹shiu
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): xy¹

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: shū
    • Zhuyin: ㄕㄨ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: shu
    • Wade–Giles: shu¹
    • Yale: shū
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shu
    • Palladius: шу (šu)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂu⁵⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: su¹
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: su
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /su⁵⁵/
  • (Xi'an)
    • Guanzhong Pinyin: fǔ
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /fu²¹/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: фу (fu, I)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /fou²⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: syu¹
    • Yale: syū
    • Cantonese Pinyin: sy¹
    • Guangdong Romanization: xu¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /syː⁵⁵/
  • (Dongguan, Guancheng)
    • Jyutping++: syu¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /syu²¹³/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: si¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /si³³/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: xy¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɕy⁴²/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sû
    • Hakka Romanization System: su^ˊ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: su¹
    • Sinological IPA: /su²⁴/
  • (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
    • Hakka Romanization System: shu^ˋ
    • Sinological IPA: /ʃu⁵³/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: su¹
    • Sinological IPA: /su⁴⁴/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: su¹
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /su¹¹/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: sṳ́
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sy⁵⁴/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: cṳ̆
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sy⁵⁵/
• Puxian Min
  • (Putian)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: zy¹
    • Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: cṳ
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sy⁵³³/
  • (Xianyou)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: zy¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sy⁵⁴⁴/
  • (Putian)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: sy¹
    • Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: sṳ
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɬy⁵³³/
  • (Xianyou)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: sy¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɬy⁵⁴⁴/

Note:

• zy1 - vernacular;
• sy1 - literary.

• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chu
    • Tâi-lô: tsu
    • Phofsit Daibuun: zw
    • IPA (Xiamen, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /t͡su⁴⁴/
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Lukang, Kinmen, Sanxia)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chir
    • Tâi-lô: tsir
    • IPA (Kinmen): /t͡sɯ⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /t͡sɯ³³/
    • IPA (Lukang): /t͡sɨ³³/
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: su
    • Tâi-lô: su
    • Phofsit Daibuun: sw
    • IPA (Xiamen, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /su⁴⁴/
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sir
    • Tâi-lô: sir
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /sɯ³³/
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, variant in Taiwan)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: si
    • Tâi-lô: si
    • Phofsit Daibuun: sy
    • IPA (Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /si⁴⁴/

Note:

• chu/chir - vernacular;
• su/sir/si - literary.

• (Teochew)
  • Peng'im: ze¹
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tsṳ
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sɯ³³/
• (Leizhou)
  • Leizhou Pinyin: zu¹ / xi¹
  • Sinological IPA: /t͡su³⁵/, /si³⁵/

Note:

• zu1 - vernacular;
• xi1 - literary.

• Southern Pinghua
  • (Nanning Pinghua, Tingzi)
    • Jyutping++: syu¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sy⁵³/
• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai, Chongming, Tongxiang, Haining)
    • Wugniu: ¹sy
    • MiniDict: sy^平
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ¹sr
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /sz̩⁵³/
    • Sinological IPA (Chongming): /sz̩⁵⁵/
    • Sinological IPA (Tongxiang): /sz̩⁴⁴/
    • Sinological IPA (Haining): /sz̩⁵⁵/
  • (Northern: Songjiang)
    • Wugniu: ¹siu
    • Sinological IPA (Songjiang): /sy⁵³/
  • (Northern: Jiading, Suzhou, Changzhou, Jiaxing, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Zhoushan)
    • Wugniu: ¹syu
    • MiniDict: syu^平
    • Sinological IPA (Jiading): /sz̩ʷ⁵³/
    • Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /sz̩ʷ⁴⁴/
    • Sinological IPA (Changzhou): /sz̩ʷ⁵⁵/
    • Sinological IPA (Jiaxing): /sz̩ʷ⁵³/
    • Sinological IPA (Hangzhou): /sz̩ʷ³³⁴/
    • Sinological IPA (Ningbo): /sz̩ʷ⁵²/
    • Sinological IPA (Zhoushan): /sz̩ʷ⁵³/
  • (Northern: Haiyan, Shaoxing)
    • Wugniu: ¹shiu
    • MiniDict: shiu^平
    • Sinological IPA (Haiyan): /ɕy⁵¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Shaoxing): /ɕy⁵²/
  • (Jinhua)
    • Wugniu: ¹shiu
    • Sinological IPA (Jinhua): /ɕy³³⁴/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: xy¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɕy³³/

---

• Middle Chinese: syo

Rime
Character	書
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	書 (26)
Final (韻)	魚 (22)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	傷魚切
Baxter	syo
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ɕɨʌ/
Pan Wuyun	/ɕiɔ/
Shao Rongfen	/ɕiɔ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ɕɨə̆/
Li Rong	/ɕiɔ/
Wang Li	/ɕĭo/
Bernhard Karlgren	/ɕi̯wo/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	shū
Expected Cantonese Reflex	syu1

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*s-ta/

  (Zhengzhang): /*hlja/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	書
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	shū
Middle Chinese	‹ syo ›
Old Chinese	/*s-ta/
English	write
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	書
Reading #	1/1
No.	17013
Phonetic component	者
Rime group	魚
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	書
Old Chinese	/*hlja/

Definitions

書

1. book; codex (Classifier: 本; 冊／册; 部)

   我對這本書產生了共鳴。 [MSC, trad.]
   我对这本书产生了共鸣。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wǒ duì zhè běn shū chǎnshēng le gòngmíng. [Pinyin]

   I resonated with this book.

   唔記得買書／唔记得买书 [Cantonese]  ―  m⁴ gei³ dak¹ maai⁵ syu¹ [Jyutping]  ―  to forget to buy textbooks

2. letter; document

   證明書／证明书  ―  zhèngmíngshū  ―  certificate

   推薦書／推荐书  ―  tuījiànshū  ―  recommendation letter

   情書／情书  ―  qíngshū  ―  love letter

   家書／家书  ―  jiāshū  ―  letter to or from one's family or home

   《告臺灣同胞書》 [MSC, trad.]
   《告台湾同胞书》 [MSC, simp.]

   “Gào Táiwān Tóngbāo Shū” [Pinyin]

   Message to the Compatriots in Taiwan

3. form of a written or printed Chinese character; style of calligraphy; script; font

   楷書／楷书  ―  kǎishū  ―  regular script

   隸書／隶书  ―  lìshū  ―  clerical script

4. (literary) Chinese character; writing; script

   • 項籍少時學書，不成，去；學劍，又不成。項梁怒之。籍曰：「書足以記姓名而已。劍一人敵，不足學，學萬人敵。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     项籍少时学书，不成，去；学剑，又不成。项梁怒之。籍曰：「书足以记姓名而已。剑一人敌，不足学，学万人敌。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

     Xiàng Jí shàoshí xué shū, bùchéng, qù; xué jiàn, yòu bùchéng. Xiàng Liáng nù zhī. Jí yuē: “Shū zúyǐ jì xìngmíng éryǐ. Jiàn yī rén dí, bùzú xué, xué wàn rén dí.” [Pinyin]

     As a child, Xiang Yu tried to learn (to read and write) Chinese characters but failed and gave it up; then he tried to learn swordplay, but failed too. Xiang Liang was angry with him. Yu said, "Characters are useful for writing names only. Neither is swordplay worth learning as it can only stand up to one person. I want to learn something that can resist ten thousand people.

5. (literary) the art of calligraphy
6. (historical) ancient government post in charge of secretarial duties
7. (historical) imperial edict
8. storytelling

   說書／说书  ―  shuōshū  ―  to perform pingshu (storytelling)

   聽書／听书  ―  tīngshū  ―  to listen to performance of pingshu (storytelling)

9. to write

   書寫／书写  ―  shūxiě  ―  to write

   罄竹難書／罄竹难书  ―  qìngzhúnánshū  ―  (of crimes) to be too many to mention

   • 動則左史書之，言則右史書之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     动则左史书之，言则右史书之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE

     Dòng zé zuǒshǐ shū zhī, yán zé yòushǐ shū zhī. [Pinyin]

     His actions were written down by the recorder of the Left, and his utterances by the recorder of the Right.

10. (Cantonese, education) teaching materials (Classifier: 課／课 c; 堂 c) (clarification of this definition is needed)

    聽書／听书 [Cantonese]  ―  teng¹ syu¹ [Jyutping]  ―  (please add an English translation of this usage example)

11. Short for 書經／书经 (Shūjīng, “the Classic of History”).
12. a surname

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 書 (“book”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		書
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		書, 書本 collective, 書籍 collective, 書冊
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	書
	Taiwan	書
	Malaysia	書
	Singapore	書
Jilu Mandarin	Jinan	書
Jiaoliao Mandarin	Yantai (Muping)	書
Central Plains Mandarin	Luoyang	書
	Wanrong	書
	Xi'an	書
	Xining	書
	Xuzhou	書
Lanyin Mandarin	Yinchuan	書
	Lanzhou	書
	Ürümqi	書
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	書, 書些 collective
	Wuhan	書
	Guiyang	書
	Guilin	書
	Liuzhou	書
	Dagudi (Maliba)	書
	Reshuitang (Longling)	書
	Mae Salong (Lancang)	書
	Mae Sai (Tengchong)	書
Jianghuai Mandarin	Nanjing	書
	Yangzhou	書, 冊子 euphemistic
	Hefei	書
Cantonese	Guangzhou	書
	Hong Kong	書
	Macau	書
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	書
	Taishan	書
	Taishan (Guanghai)	書
	Dongguan	書
	Yangjiang	書
	Hepu (Lianzhou)	書
	Hepu (Shatian)	書
	Beihai	書
	Beihai (Nankang)	書
	Beihai (Yingpan)	書
	Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô)	書
	Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà)	書
	Fangchenggang (Fangcheng)	書
	Danzhou	書
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	書
	Singapore (Guangfu)	書
	Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)	書
	Móng Cái	書
	Mandalay (Taishan)	書
Gan	Nanchang	書
	Lichuan	書
	Pingxiang	書
Hakka	Meixian	書
	Yudu	書
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	書
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	書
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	書
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	書
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	書
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	書
Huizhou	Jixi	書
Jin	Taiyuan	書
	Xinzhou	書
	Liangcheng	書
Northern Min	Jian'ou	書
	Songxi	書
	Jianyang	書
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	書
	Fuzhou (Changle)	書
	Lianjiang	書
	Fuqing	書
	Yongtai	書
	Minqing	書
	Gutian	書
	Pingnan	書
	Luoyuan	書
	Fu'an	書
	Ningde	書
	Xiapu	書
	Zherong	書
	Shouning	書
	Zhouning	書
	Fuding	書冊, 書
Southern Min	Xiamen	冊, 書冊
	Quanzhou	冊, 書, 書冊
	Jinjiang	冊
	Yongchun	冊, 書
	Zhangzhou	冊
	Zhangpu	冊
	New Taipei (Tamsui)	書
	New Taipei (Pingxi)	書
	Tainan	冊
	Tainan (Anping)	冊
	Penghu (Xiyu)	書
	Penang (Hokkien)	冊
	Singapore (Hokkien)	冊
	Manila (Hokkien)	冊
	Medan (Hokkien)	冊
	Longyan	書冊
	Zhangping	冊
	Zhangping (Yongfu)	冊
	Datian	書
	Chaozhou	書
	Shantou	書, 書冊
	Jieyang	書, 書冊
	Haifeng	冊
	Bangkok (Teochew)	書
	Chiang Mai (Teochew)	書
	Hat Yai (Teochew)	書
	Singapore (Teochew)	書, 冊
	Pontianak (Teochew)	書
	Leizhou	冊
	Wenchang	冊
	Haikou	冊
	Singapore (Hainanese)	冊
Puxian Min	Putian	冊
	Putian (Donghai, Chengxiang)	冊
	Putian (Jiangkou, Hanjiang)	冊
	Putian (Nanri, Xiuyu)	冊
	Xianyou	冊
	Xianyou (Fengting)	冊
	Xianyou (Youyang)	冊
Central Min	Yong'an	書
	Sanming (Shaxian)	書
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan (Sanxiang)	書
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	書
Wu	Shanghai	書
	Shanghai (Chongming)	書
	Suzhou	書
	Danyang	書
	Hangzhou	書
	Ningbo	書
	Wenzhou	書
	Jinhua	書
Xiang	Changsha	書
	Xiangxiang	書
	Loudi	書
	Shuangfeng	書

• (letter):

edit

• 信
• 信件 (xìnjiàn)
• 信函 (xìnhán)
• 信札 (xìnzhá)
• 八行 (bāháng) (literary)
• 八行書 / 八行书 (bāhángshū) (literary)
• 函件 (hánjiàn)
• 尺牘 / 尺牍 (chǐdú) (literary)
• 尺素 (chǐsù) (literary, figurative)
• 手書 / 手书 (shǒushū) (literary)
• 手簡 / 手简 (shǒujiǎn) (literary)
• 書信 / 书信 (shūxìn) (formal)
• 書函 / 书函 (shūhán)
• 書札 / 书札 (shūzhá) (literary)
• 書牘 / 书牍 (shūdú) (literary)
• 書簡 / 书简 (shūjiǎn) (literary)
• 筆札 / 笔札 (bǐzhá) (literary, figurative)
• 簡 / 简 (jiǎn) (literary, or in compounds)
• 鴻 / 鸿 (hóng) (literary, figurative)

Dialectal synonyms of 信 (“letter”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		書, 函, 書札, 書函, 便紙 Korea
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		信, 函, 書信, 信件, 信函, 信札, 函件, 書函, 書簡, 書牘, 書札
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	信
	Taiwan	信
	Malaysia	信
	Singapore	信
Jilu Mandarin	Jinan	信
Jiaoliao Mandarin	Yantai (Muping)	信
Central Plains Mandarin	Luoyang	信
	Wanrong	信
	Xi'an	信
	Xining	信
	Xuzhou	信
Lanyin Mandarin	Yinchuan	信
	Lanzhou	信
	Ürümqi	信
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	信
	Wuhan	信
	Guiyang	信
	Guilin	信
	Liuzhou	信
	Dagudi (Maliba)	信
	Reshuitang (Longling)	信
	Mae Salong (Lancang)	信
	Mae Sai (Tengchong)	信
Jianghuai Mandarin	Nanjing	信
	Yangzhou	信
	Hefei	信
Cantonese	Guangzhou	信
	Hong Kong	信
	Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou)	信
	Macau	信
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	信
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	信
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	信
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	信
	Foshan	信
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	信
	Foshan (Shunde)	信
	Foshan (Sanshui)	信
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	信
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	信
	Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou)	信
	Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka)	信
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	信
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	信
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	信
	Taishan	信
	Kaiping (Chikan)	信
	Enping (Niujiang)	信
	Heshan (Yayao)	信
	Dongguan	信
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	信
	Shaoguan	信
	Yunfu	信
	Yangjiang	信
	Xinyi	信
	Lianjiang	信
	Beihai	信
	Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô)	信
	Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà)	信
	Fangchenggang (Fangcheng)	信
	Singapore (Guangfu)	信
	Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)	信
	Móng Cái	信
Gan	Nanchang	信
	Lichuan	信
	Pingxiang	信
Hakka	Meixian	信
	Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua)	信
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	信
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	信
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	信
	Wuhua (Shuizhai)	信
	Wuhua (Huacheng)	信
	Wuhua (Changbu)	信
	Wuhua (Mianyang)	信
	Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua)	信
	Luhe	信仔
	Yudu	信
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	信仔
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	信仔
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	信仔
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	信
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	信仔, 信
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	批, 信
	Hong Kong	信
Huizhou	Jixi	信
Jin	Taiyuan	信
	Xinzhou	信
Northern Min	Jian'ou	信
	Songxi	信
	Jianyang	信
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	批
	Gutian	批
	Pingnan	批, 信
	Ningde	批
	Zhouning	批
	Fuding	信
	Matsu	批
	Singapore (Fuqing)	批
Southern Min	Xiamen	批, 批信
	Quanzhou	批, 批信
	Yongchun	批
	Zhangzhou	批, 批信
	Zhao'an	批
	Taipei	批
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	批
	Kaohsiung	批
	Yilan	批
	Changhua (Lukang)	批
	Taichung	批
	Taichung (Wuqi)	批
	Tainan	批, 批信
	Taitung	批
	Hsinchu	批
	Kinmen	批
	Penghu (Magong)	批
	Penang (Hokkien)	批
	Singapore (Hokkien)	批, 批信
	Manila (Hokkien)	批
	Longyan	信
	Datian	信
	Chaozhou	信, 批 international incoming letters
	Bangkok (Teochew)	信, 家批 dated
	Singapore (Teochew)	信, 批
	Batam (Teochew)	信
	Leizhou	信
	Wenchang	信 domestic, 批 international
	Haikou	信
	Singapore (Hainanese)	信, 批
Puxian Min	Putian	批
	Xianyou	批
	Fuding (Aoyao)	批
Central Min	Yong'an	信
	Sanming (Shaxian)	信
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi)	信
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	信
Wu	Shanghai	信
	Shanghai (Chongming)	信
	Suzhou	信
	Danyang	信
	Ningbo	信
	Wenzhou	信
	Jinhua	信
Xiang	Changsha	信
	Loudi	信
	Shuangfeng	信

Compounds

• 上書 / 上书 (shàngshū)
• 下書 / 下书 (xiàshū)
• 三朝書 / 三朝书
• 不書 / 不书
• 中書 / 中书 (zhōngshū)
• 丹書 / 丹书
• 代書 / 代书 (dàishū)
• 休書 / 休书 (xiūshū)
• 佐書 / 佐书
• 但書 / 但书 (dànshū)
• 佛書 / 佛书
• 來書 / 来书 (láishū)
• 修書 / 修书 (xiūshū)
• 偶書 / 偶书
• 偽書 / 伪书 (wěishū)
• 傳道書 / 传道书 (Chuándàoshū)
• 全書 / 全书 (quánshū)
• 八書 / 八书
• 六書 / 六书 (liùshū)
• 兵書 / 兵书 (bīngshū)
• 冊書 / 册书
• 出書 / 出书 (chūshū)
• 分書 / 分书
• 刑書 / 刑书
• 判書 / 判书
• 刻書 / 刻书
• 券書 / 券书 (quànshū)
• 制書 / 制书
• 叢書 / 丛书 (cóngshū)
• 古書 / 古书 (gǔshū)
• 史書 / 史书 (shǐshū)
• 周書 / 周书
• 商書 / 商书
• 唸書 / 念书 (niànshū)
• 唱書 / 唱书
• 善書 / 善书
• 四書 / 四书 (Sìshū)
• 回書 / 回书 (huíshū)
• 國書 / 国书 (guóshū)
• 團書 / 团书
• 圖書 / 图书 (túshū)
• 圖書館 / 图书馆
• 坤書 / 坤书
• 填書 / 填书
• 夏書 / 夏书 (Xià Shū)
• 大書 / 大书 (dàshū)
• 天書 / 天书 (tiānshū)
• 奉書 / 奉书
• 女書 / 女书 (Nǚshū)
• 奴書 / 奴书
• 好書 / 好书
• 子書 / 子书
• 字書 / 字书 (zìshū)
• 宋書 / 宋书
• 官書 / 官书
• 宣誓書 / 宣誓书 (xuānshìshū)
• 家書 / 家书 (jiāshū)
• 寄書 / 寄书 (jìshū)
• 密書 / 密书 (mìshū)
• 寫書 / 写书 (xiěshū)
• 寶書 / 宝书
• 專書 / 专书
• 尚書 / 尚书 (shàngshū)
• 尺書 / 尺书
• 左書 / 左书
• 帛書 / 帛书 (bóshū)
• 弔書 / 吊书
• 御書 / 御书
• 復書 / 复书
• 志書 / 志书 (zhìshū)
• 快書 / 快书 (kuàishū)
• 念書 / 念书 (niànshū)
• 情書 / 情书 (qíngshū)
• 憲書 / 宪书
• 戒書 / 戒书
• 戰書 / 战书 (zhànshū)
• 房書 / 房书
• 手書 / 手书 (shǒushū)
• 批書 / 批书
• 投書 / 投书 (tóushū)
• 指書 / 指书
• 捎書 / 捎书
• 捷書 / 捷书 (jiéshū)
• 損書 / 损书
• 摹書 / 摹书
• 擁書 / 拥书
• 攻書 / 攻书
• 故書 / 故书
• 教書 / 教书 (jiāoshū)
• 敕書 / 敕书 (chìshū)
• 文書 / 文书 (wénshū)
• 新書 / 新书 (xīnshū)
• 方書 / 方书
• 日書 / 日书 (rìshū)
• 春書 / 春书
• 晒書
• 晉書 / 晋书
• 晾書 / 晾书
• 曆書 / 历书 (lìshū)
• 曝書 / 曝书
• 書中自有顏如玉 / 书中自有颜如玉 (shū zhōng zì yǒu yán rú yù)
• 書中自有黃金屋 / 书中自有黄金屋 (shū zhōng zì yǒu huángjīn wū)
• 書丹 / 书丹 (shūdān)
• 書亭 / 书亭 (shūtíng)
• 書信 / 书信 (shūxìn)
• 書傳 / 书传
• 書僮 / 书僮
• 書儀 / 书仪
• 書冊 / 书册 (shūcè)
• 書函 / 书函 (shūhán)
• 書刀 / 书刀 (shūdāo)
• 書刊 / 书刊 (shūkān)
• 書包 / 书包 (shūbāo)
• 書卷 / 书卷 (shūjuàn)
• 書卷氣 / 书卷气 (shūjuànqì)
• 書口 / 书口 (shūkǒu)
• 書史 / 书史
• 書名 / 书名 (shūmíng)
• 書吏 / 书吏
• 書名號 / 书名号 (shūmínghào)
• 書呈 / 书呈
• 書呆子 / 书呆子 (shūdāizi)
• 書品 / 书品
• 書商 / 书商 (shūshāng)
• 書單 / 书单 (shūdān)
• 書坊 / 书坊 (shūfāng)
• 書城 / 书城 (shūchéng)
• 書城路 / 书城路 (Shūchénglù)
• 書場 / 书场
• 書報 / 书报 (shūbào)
• 書塾 / 书塾
• 書壇 / 书坛 (shūtán)
• 書夾 / 书夹
• 書契 / 书契 (shūqì)
• 書套 / 书套 (shūtào)
• 書子 / 书子
• 書學 / 书学
• 書客 / 书客 (shūkè)
• 書家 / 书家 (shūjiā)
• 書寓 / 书寓
• 書寫 / 书写 (shūxiě)
• 書局 / 书局 (shūjú)
• 書屋 / 书屋 (shūwū)
• 書展 / 书展 (shūzhǎn)
• 書市 / 书市 (shūshì)
• 書帙 / 书帙
• 書帕 / 书帕
• 書帷 / 书帷
• 書帽 / 书帽
• 書店 / 书店 (shūdiàn)
• 書庫 / 书库 (shūkù)
• 書廚 / 书厨 (shūchú)
• 書影 / 书影 (shūyǐng)
• 書後 / 书后
• 書心 / 书心
• 書房 / 书房 (shūfáng)
• 書扉 / 书扉
• 書手 / 书手
• 書攤 / 书摊 (shūtān)
• 書攤兒 / 书摊儿
• 書啟 / 书启
• 書會 / 书会
• 書本 / 书本 (shūběn)
• 書札 / 书札 (shūzhá)
• 書本兒 / 书本儿 (shūběnr)
• 書林 / 书林
• 書柬 / 书柬 (shūjiǎn)
• 書架 / 书架 (shūjià)
• 書格 / 书格
• 書案 / 书案 (shū'àn)
• 書桌 / 书桌 (shūzhuō)
• 書桌兒 / 书桌儿
• 書格子 / 书格子
• 書業 / 书业 (shūyè)
• 書櫃 / 书柜 (shūguì)
• 書櫥 / 书橱 (shūchú)
• 書歸正傳 / 书归正传
• 書殼 / 书壳
• 書法 / 书法 (shūfǎ)
• 書淫 / 书淫 (shūyín)
• 書牘 / 书牍 (shūdú)
• 書物 / 书物
• 書理 / 书理
• 書生 / 书生 (shūshēng)
• 書生氣 / 书生气 (shūshēngqì)
• 書畫 / 书画 (shūhuà)
• 書疏 / 书疏
• 書痴 / 书痴
• 書癡 / 书痴
• 書皮 / 书皮 (shūpí)
• 書皮兒 / 书皮儿
• 書目 / 书目 (shūmù)
• 書眉 / 书眉
• 書社 / 书社 (shūshè)
• 書種 / 书种
• 書稿 / 书稿 (shūgǎo)
• 書空 / 书空
• 書策 / 书策
• 書篋 / 书箧 (shūqiè)
• 書箱 / 书箱 (shūxiāng)
• 書簏 / 书簏
• 書簡 / 书简 (shūjiǎn)
• 書籍 / 书籍 (shūjí)
• 書籤 / 书签 (shūqiān)
• 書籤兒 / 书签儿
• 書紳 / 书绅
• 書經 / 书经 (shūjīng)
• 書翰 / 书翰
• 書聖 / 书圣
• 書背 / 书背
• 書脊 / 书脊 (shūjǐ)
• 書腦 / 书脑
• 書膽 / 书胆
• 書舖 / 书铺 (shūpù)
• 書茶館兒 / 书茶馆儿
• 書號 / 书号 (shūhào)
• 書號兒 / 书号儿
• 書蝨 / 书虱
• 書蟲 / 书虫 (shūchóng)
• 書蠹 / 书蠹
• 書衣 / 书衣
• 書裙 / 书裙
• 書記 / 书记 (shūjì)
• 書評 / 书评 (shūpíng)
• 書譜 / 书谱 (Shū Pǔ)
• 書跡 / 书迹 (shūjì)
• 書辦 / 书办
• 書迷 / 书迷 (shūmí)
• 書鋪 / 书铺 (shūpù)
• 書錄 / 书录 (shūlù)
• 書鎮 / 书镇 (shūzhèn)
• 書院 / 书院 (shūyuàn)
• 書面 / 书面 (shūmiàn)
• 書面語 / 书面语 (shūmiànyǔ)
• 書頁 / 书页 (shūyè)
• 書題 / 书题
• 書館 / 书馆 (shūguǎn)
• 書香 / 书香 (shūxiāng)
• 書體 / 书体 (shūtǐ)
• 書鼓 / 书鼓
• 書齋 / 书斋 (shūzhāi)
• 本書 / 本书 (běnshū)
• 村書 / 村书
• 板書 / 板书 (bǎnshū)
• 校書 / 校书
• 梁書 (Liáng Shū)
• 梵書 / 梵书
• 楷書 / 楷书 (kǎishū)
• 榜書 / 榜书 (bǎngshū)
• 樣書 / 样书
• 模書 / 模书
• 檄書 / 檄书
• 正書 / 正书
• 殳書 / 殳书
• 法書 / 法书 (fǎshū)
• 洋書 / 洋书
• 洛書 / 洛书
• 溫書 / 温书 (wēnshū)
• 漢書 / 汉书 (Hànshū)
• 漆書 / 漆书 (qīshū)
• 焚書 / 焚书 (fénshū)
• 爰書 / 爰书 (yuánshū)
• 牓書 / 榜书
• 玉書 / 玉书
• 理書 / 理书
• 琴書 / 琴书
• 璽書 / 玺书 (xǐshū)
• 生書 / 生书
• 異書 / 异书
• 盟書 / 盟书
• 盡信書不如無書 / 尽信书不如无书 (jìn xìn shū bùrú wú shū)
• 直書 / 直书 (zhíshū)
• 看書 / 看书 (kànshū)
• 相書 / 相书
• 真書 / 真书 (zhēnshū)
• 短書 / 短书
• 祕書 / 秘书 (mìshū)
• 祟書 / 祟书
• 禁書 / 禁书 (jìnshū)
• 禮書 / 礼书
• 私書 / 私书 (sīshū)
• 移書 / 移书
• 竹書 / 竹书 (zhúshū)
• 策書 / 策书
• 筋書 / 筋书
• 箭書 / 箭书
• 篆書 / 篆书 (zhuànshū)
• 簡書 / 简书
• 簿書 / 簿书
• 素書 / 素书
• 紫書 / 紫书
• 經書 / 经书 (jīngshū)
• 編書 / 编书
• 緯書 / 纬书 (wěishū)
• 繒書 / 缯书
• 署書 / 署书
• 羽書 / 羽书 (yǔshū)
• 翻書 / 翻书
• 聘書 / 聘书 (pìnshū)
• 聽書 / 听书 (tīngshū)
• 背書 / 背书 (bèishū)
• 臨書 / 临书
• 致書 / 致书 (zhìshū)
• 舊書 / 旧书 (jiùshū)
• 草書 / 草书 (cǎoshū)
• 著書 / 著书 (zhùshū)
• 蓄書 / 蓄书
• 蕊書 / 蕊书
• 薦書 / 荐书
• 藏書 / 藏书 (cángshū)
• 蘚書 / 藓书
• 蟲書 / 虫书
• 蠟書 / 蜡书
• 蠻書 / 蛮书
• 血書 / 血书 (xuèshū)
• 行書 / 行书 (xíngshū)
• 覺書 / 觉书 (juéshū)
• 觀書 / 观书 (guānshū)
• 評書 / 评书 (píngshū)
• 詔書 / 诏书 (zhàoshū)
• 詩書 / 诗书 (shīshū)
• 說書 / 说书 (shuōshū)
• 諫書 / 谏书
• 講書 / 讲书 (jiǎngshū)
• 謗書 / 谤书 (bàngshū)
• 證書 / 证书 (zhèngshū)
• 譜書 / 谱书
• 護書 / 护书
• 讀書 / 读书 (dúshū)
• 讀書人 / 读书人 (dúshūrén)
• 買書 / 买书
• 貼書 / 贴书
• 貶書 / 贬书
• 賭書 / 赌书
• 赦書 / 赦书
• 車書 / 车书
• 軍書 / 军书
• 載書 / 载书 (zàishū)
• 辟書
• 辭書 / 辞书 (císhū)
• 通書 / 通书 (tōngshū)
• 逸書 / 逸书 (yìshū)
• 達書 / 达书
• 遺書 / 遗书
• 還書 / 还书 (huánshū)
• 鄉書 / 乡书
• 醫書 / 医书 (yīshū)
• 錦書 / 锦书
• 長書 / 长书
• 閒書 / 闲书 (xiánshū)
• 關書 / 关书
• 附書 / 附书
• 降書 / 降书
• 除書 / 除书
• 陳書 / 陈书
• 隋書 / 隋书
• 隸書 / 隶书 (lìshū)
• 雁書 / 雁书
• 雜書 / 杂书
• 離書 / 离书
• 音書 / 音书
• 韻書 / 韵书 (yùnshū)
• 類書 / 类书 (lèishū)
• 飛書 / 飞书
• 飽讀詩書 / 饱读诗书 (bǎodúshīshū)
• 鬮書 / 阄书
• 魏書 / 魏书
• 魚書 / 鱼书
• 鶴書 / 鹤书
• 黑書 / 黑书
• 默書 / 默书 (mòshū)
• 鼓書 / 鼓书

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (書):

• → Japanese: 書(しょ) (sho)
• → Korean: 서(書) (seo)
• → Vietnamese: thư (書)

"Others":

• → Proto-Tai: *sɯːᴬ
  • Thai: สือ (sʉ̌ʉ)

References

• “書”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[1], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
• “書”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2025.

Japanese

Kanji

書

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

• Go-on: しょ (sho, Jōyō)^{←しよ (syo, historical)}
• Kan-on: しょ (sho, Jōyō)^{←しよ (syo, historical)}
• Kun: かく (kaku, 書く, Jōyō)、ふみ (fumi, 書)

Compounds

• 書(かき)順(じゅん) (kakijun)
• 書(かき)初(ぞめ) (kakizome)
• 書(しょ)院(いん) (shoin)
• 書(しょ)家(か) (shoka)
• 書(しょ)架(か) (shoka)
• 書(しょ)画(が) (shoga)
• 書(しょ)簡(かん) (shokan)
• 書(しょ)記(き) (shoki)
• 書(しょ)式(しき) (shoshiki)
• 書(しょ)写(しゃ) (shosha)
• 書(しょ)籍(せき) (shoseki)
• 書(しょ)体(たい) (shotai)
• 書(しょ)道(どう) (shodō)
• 書(しょ)法(ほう) (shohō)
• 書(しょ)面(めん) (shomen)
• 書(しょ)物(もつ) (shomotsu)
• 書(しょ)類(るい) (shorui)
• 書(しょ)棚(だな) (shodana)
• 楷(かい)書(しょ) (kaisho)
• 教(きょう)科(か)書(しょ) (kyōkasho)
• 行(ぎょう)書(しょ) (gyōsho)
• 原(げん)書(しょ) (gensho)
• 辞(じ)書(しょ) (jisho)
• 新(しん)書(しょ) (shinsho)
• 聖(せい)書(しょ) (seisho)
• 清(せい)書(しょ) (seisho)
• 誓(せい)書(しょ) (seisho)
• 正(せい)書(しょ)法(ほう) (seishohō)
• 草(そう)書(しょ) (sōsho)
• 叢(そう)書(しょ) (sōsho)
• 縦(たて)書(がき) (tategaki)
• 伝(でん)道(どう)の書(しょ) (Dendō no Sho, “Ecclesiastes”)
• 読(どく)書(しょ) (dokusho)
• 図(と)書(しょ) (tosho)
• 図(と)書(しょ)館(かん) (toshokan)
• 葉(は)書(がき) (hagaki)
• 秘(ひ)書(しょ) (hisho)
• 文(ぶん)書(しょ) (bunsho)
• 洋(よう)書(しょ) (yōsho)
• 横(よこ)書(がき) (yokogaki)
• 落(らく)書(がき) (rakugaki)
• 和(わ)書(しょ) (washo)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
書
しょ Grade: 2
on'yomi

From Middle Chinese 書 (syo, “writing”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) しょ [shò] (Heiban – [0])
• (Tokyo) しょ [shóꜜ] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ɕo̞]

Noun

書(しょ) • (sho) 

1. document

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
書
ふみ Grade: 2
kun'yomi

Alternative forms

• 文

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ふみ [fúꜜmì] (Atamadaka – [1])
• (Tokyo) ふみ [fùmíꜜ] (Odaka – [2])
• IPA^(key): [ɸɯ̟mʲi]

Noun

書(ふみ) • (fumi) 

1. letter

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 書 (MC syo). Recorded as Middle Korean 셔 (sye) (Yale: sye) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.

Hanja

Wikisource

書 (eumhun 글 서 (geul seo))

1. Hanja form^? of 서 (“document”).

Compounds

Compounds

• 각서 (覺書, gakseo)
• 낙서 (落書, nakseo)
• 독서 (讀書, dokseo)
• 문서 (文書, munseo)
• 백서 (白書, baekseo)
• 본서 (本書, bonseo)
• 비서 (秘書, biseo)
• 사서 (司書, saseo)
• 서기 (書記, seogi)
• 서당 (書堂, seodang)
• 서류 (書類, seoryu)
• 서면 (書面, seomyeon)
• 서방 (書房, seobang)
• 서신 (書信, seosin)
• 서예 (書藝, seoye)
• 서체 (書體, seoche)
• 서원 (書院, seowon)
• 서재 (書齋, seojae)
• 서적 (書籍, seojeok)
• 서평 (書評, seopyeong)
• 성서 (聖書, seongseo)
• 엽서 (葉書, yeopseo)
• 원서 (原書, wonseo)
• 유서 (遺書, yuseo)
• 저서 (著書, jeoseo)
• 서점 (書店, seojeom)
• 서재 (書齋, seojae)
• 도서 (圖書, doseo)
• 도서관 (圖書館, doseogwan)
• 전도서 (傳道書, Jeondoseo, “Ecclesiastes”)

References

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [2]

Okinawan

Kanji

書

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

• On (unclassified): し (shi)、す (su)^{←しゅ (syu, historical)}
• Kun: かちゅん (kachun, 書ちゅん)

Compounds

• 書(し)物(むち) (shimuchi)
• 上(っわー)書(が)ち ('wāgachi)
• 下(しちゃ)書(が)ち (shichagachi)

Vietnamese

Han character

書: Hán Nôm readings: thư

Noun

(classifier 幅 (bức), 蘿 (lá)) 書

1. chữ Hán form of thư (“(post) a letter”).

   函(hòm)書(thư)電(điện)子(tử) ― an e-mail

Affix

書

1. chữ Hán form of thư (“(dated or historical) a document, book or compilation”).

   證(chứng)明(minh)書(thư)

   an identity card

   後(Hậu)漢(Hán)書(thư) ― the Book of (Later) Han

   大(Đại)越(Việt)史(sử)記(ký)全(toàn)書(thư) ― Complete Annals of Đại Việt

Usage notes

In Chinese, 書 / 书 (shū) ambiguously means "book", "document" or "letter". In Vietnamese, the senses of "book" and "document" are only fossilized and not productive. The free noun only means "letter". For the free noun meaning "book", use 冊 (sách) instead.

Derived terms

• 百科全書 (bách khoa toàn thư)
• 證明書 (chứng minh thư)
• 名冊書 (danh sách thư)
• 電書 (điện thư
• 後漢書 (Hậu Hán thư)
• 書案 (thư án)
• 書電子 (thư điện tử)
• 書記 (thư ký/thư kí)
• 書法 (thư pháp)
• 書院 (thư viện)