术 (shù) — technique; method
Definition
术 (shù) is a bound morpheme meaning 'technique / method' — it only appears as the second part of a compound (技术, 艺术, 战术). Standalone, it is never used alone.
bound form
techniquemethod
Easily confused
- 木mùlook-alike(bound form) wood; tree; timber
- 树shùsound-aliketree
- 本běnlook-alike(classifier) used for books, periodicals, documents, etc.
- 恕shùsound-alike(bound form) to forgive, to excuse (used in polite expressions)
- 束shùsound-alike(classifier) for bunches, bundles, or beams of light
- 竖shùsound-alike(adjective) vertical, upright
Examples
- 。Xiàn dài jì shù fā zhǎn hěn kuài.Modern technology develops quickly.
- 。Tā xué de shì měi shù.He studies fine arts.
- 。Zhè ge zhàn shù hěn yǒu xiào.This tactic is very effective.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 術; 术 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
朮
朮zhú術shù
Same sound today
The traditional form 術 has 行 (street, path) beside 朮, which gives the sound; the simplified 术 is a later shorthand.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.