书
Character learning workspace

shū · book

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 1HSK 3.0 · Level 1Frequency #560
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 书

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 书 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

书
Complete decomposition unavailableThis character is currently indexed as a single visual form.
Writing notes

Shape and proportion

4Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Single bodyCharacter structure

Keep the whole form centered inside the writing square.

乙Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 书 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 书

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

shūWords pronounced shū
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 书 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ yǒu dàliàng de shū zài wǒ de shū jià shàng.我有大量的书在我的书架上。

I have numerous books on my bookshelf.

Source: Tatoeba #1695387 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè bú shì nǐ de shū , zhè shì wǒ de shū.这不是你的书,这是我的书。

This is not your book, it's mine.

Source: Tatoeba #333480 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ suǒ yǒu de shū wǒ dōu kàn guò le.你所有的书我都看过了。

I have read all of your books.

Source: Tatoeba #11698270 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ bǎ tā de shū hái gěi le tā.我把他的书还给了他。

I returned his book to him.

Source: Tatoeba #345882 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ zhǎo dào le wǒ yào de shū.我找到了我要的书。

I was able to find the book I was looking for.

Source: Tatoeba #2885989 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè shì wǒ de shū.这是我的书。

This is my book.

Source: Tatoeba #334383 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 书 in context

  1. Say shū, then recall the core meaning: book.
  2. Write all 4 strokes while keeping the single body balanced.
  3. Use it in 读书 (dú shū), meaning “to read a book”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 书 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.