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舒 (shū) — (bound form) to stretch, to relax (as in 舒展, 舒服); (bound form) to unfold, to extend (as in 舒展, 舒缓)

Definition

舒 (shū) is a bound morpheme — it only appears in compounds like 舒服 (comfortable) and 舒展 (to stretch out). It carries the sense of relaxing or unfolding.

bound form
to stretchto relax (as in 舒展, 舒服)to unfoldto extend (as in 舒展, 舒缓)

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè zhāng shā fā zuò shàng qù hěn shū fu.
    This sofa feels very comfortable when you sit on it.
  • 。
    Tā měi tiān zuò yú jiā lái shū zhǎn shēn tǐ.
    She does yoga every day to stretch her body.
  • ，。
    Zhè ge fáng jiān hěn shū shì, shì hé xiū xi.
    This room is very cozy, suitable for resting.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
舍舍shè
Sound part声符shēngfú
予
予yǔ舒shū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

舒 is made from 舍 and 予: 舍 supplies the meaning, while 予 supplies the sound.

Appears in
Fitness & Exercise

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