授 (shòu) — to confer, to bestow (a title, degree, award, etc.); to teach, to instruct

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning 'to confer / bestow' (awards, degrees, authority) or 'to teach' (a classic, literary register). It almost always appears in fixed compounds like 授予, 授课, 授权 rather than standing alone.

bound form
to conferto bestow (a title, degree, award, etc.)to teachto instruct
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Xué xiào xiàng tā shòu yǔ le bó shì xué wèi.
    The school conferred a doctoral degree upon him.
  • 。
    Zhè wèi lǎo jiào shòu yì shēng shòu kè wú shù.
    This old professor taught countless classes in his life.
  • 。
    Gōng sī yǐ jīng shòu quán gěi jīng lǐ chǔ lǐ cǐ shì.
    The company has authorized the manager to handle this matter.

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
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
受
受shòu授shòu
Same sound today

授 is built from 手 and 受. 受 gives the sound, and 手 is a hand.

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