Definition
序 (xù) is a bound form (usually part of a compound) with two main meanings: 'order/sequence' and 'preface'. For 'order', it is more formal and often used in technical or fixed compounds (e.g., 秩序, 工序), while 顺序 (shùnxù) is the everyday word for 'sequence' and 次序 (cìxù) emphasizes 'order of priority'. For 'preface', 序 is a bound form used in compounds like 序言 (xùyán), which is the full noun for 'preface'.
noun
(bound form) ordersequence(bound form) prefaceintroductory text
Easily confused
- 需xūsound-aliketo need, to require
- 许xǔsound-aliketo allow, to permit
- 须xūsound-alikemust, have to (formal, literary)
- 虚xūsound-alike(adjective) empty; void; unoccupied
- 续xùsound-aliketo continue (a contract, subscription, or membership)
Examples
- 序。Tā qǐng le yí wèi zhùmíng zuòjiā wèi tā de shū xiě yì piān xù.He invited a famous writer to write a preface for his book.
- 。Qǐng dàjiā ànzhào niánlíng shùnxù zhàn hǎo.Please stand in order of age.
- 。Zhèxiē cí shì àn pīnyīn shùnxù páiliè de.These words are arranged in pinyin order.
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