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书写 (shū xiě) — to write (formal; especially of characters or text)

Definition

书写 is the formal verb for putting characters or text onto a page, especially Chinese characters. Compared with the everyday 写, it sounds written and formal; 撰写 is even more formal, used for composing documents or articles.

verb
to write (formal; especially of characters or text)

Examples

  • 书写。
    Tā měi tiān shū xiě hàn zì.
    He writes Chinese characters every day.
  • 书写。
    Qǐng yòng gāng bǐ shū xiě nǐ de míng zì.
    Please write your name with a pen.
  • 书写。
    Tā shū xiě dé hěn rèn zhēn.
    He writes very carefully.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

书shūwrite
写xiěwrite

书 and 写 both mean to write, so the word emphasizes the act of writing.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 書; 书 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
聿聿yùwriting brush
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě書shū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 書 uses 聿, a writing brush, and 者 for its sound; the simplified 书 is a later shorthand.

Open 书 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 寫; 写 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
舄
舄xì寫xiě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 寫 combines 宀 with 舄 for the sound; this note is about 寫, not the simplified 写.

Open 写 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Reading & Writing

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