抒 (shū) — (bound form) to express (feelings, opinions); to vent

Definition

抒 (shū) is a bound form used only in compounds like 抒发, 抒情, 抒见 — it means 'to express or pour out' (feelings, views), with a literary flavor. It never stands alone as a verb.

bound form
to express (feelings, opinions)to vent
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Tā xǐ huan yòng shī gē lái shū fā nèi xīn de qíng gǎn.
    He likes to use poetry to express his inner feelings.
  • 。
    Zhè shǒu shū qíng shī xiě dé hěn měi.
    This lyric poem is beautifully written.
  • ，，。
    Tǎo lùn shí, dà jiā gè shū jǐ jiàn, qì fen hěn rè liè.
    During the discussion, everyone expressed their own views, and the atmosphere was lively.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
予
予yǔ抒shū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 扌 is a hand, showing that 抒 relates to a hand action. The right side 予 gives the sound.

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