史书 (shǐ shū) — history book; historical records

Definition

noun

history bookhistorical records

Measure word · 本

史书，。
Tā xǐ huan dú shǐ shū, tè bié shì guān yú táng cháo de.
He likes to read history books, especially about the Tang Dynasty.
史书。
Zhè běn shǐ shū jì zǎi le xǔ duō zhòng yào shì jiàn.
This historical record documents many important events.
史书。
Gǔ dài shǐ shū shì yán jiū lì shǐ de zhòng yào zī liào.
Ancient historical records are important materials for studying history.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

史 (history) and 书 (book) together mean a book of historical records.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old drawing showed someone holding a flag-like or writing tool, indicating the act of recording events; the exact inner shape is unclear.

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

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.