书
shū
Book · trad. 書
书 (shū) is the most common and versatile word for 'book' in Mandarin Chinese. It refers to a physical book, a textbook, or any general reading material.
What does 书 (shū) mean?
书 (shū) means “book” in English.
When to use it
Neutral. It's appropriate in almost all situations. For a more formal or collective term, especially in libraries or publishing, you might hear 图书 (túshū).
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “shoo” (as in the English word 'shoe'). It's a first tone, which means your voice stays high and flat.
Other ways to say it
- 图书túshūbooks (formal, often for collections/library)
- 课本kèběntextbook
- 小说xiǎoshuōnovel
Examples
我喜欢看书。
wǒ xǐhuan kàn shū.
I like to read books.
这本书很有意思。
zhè běn shū hěn yǒu yìsi.
This book is very interesting.
你有没有中文书？
nǐ yǒu méiyǒu zhōngwén shū?
Do you have any Chinese books?
Watch it in 20 seconds
A short animated clip with Xiao Jin, our monkey mascot — the phrase, an example, and native audio.
Pro tip: The standard measure word for books is 本 (běn). So, you would say 一本书 (yī běn shū) for 'one book,' not 一个书 (yī gè shū).
Related phrases
课 · Class课程 · Course字母 · Alphabet
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