(shū) — different; special

Definition

Bound morpheme (shū) meaning 'different' or 'special' — almost always part of a set phrase like 特殊, 殊荣, or 殊途同归; rarely used alone. Contrast with 特 (tè), the independent adjective 'special', and 异 (yì), the written 'different'.

bound form
differentspecial

Examples

  • Zhè jiàn shì qíng kuàng tè shū, xū yào rèn zhēn chǔ lǐ.
    This matter is a special case and needs careful handling.
  • Tā huò dé le guó jiā bān fā de shū róng.
    He received a special honor awarded by the state.
  • Suī rán fāng fǎ bù tóng, dàn shū tú tóng guī.
    Although the methods differ, they lead to the same destination.

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
Written in full asdǎi
Sound part声符shēngfú
zhūshū
Same sound today

The left part of 殊 is 歹, the meaning part; the right part is 朱, the sound part.

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