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.
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tú shūbooks (formal, often for collections/library)
- 课本kè běntextbook
- 小说xiǎo shuōnovel
Examples
我喜欢看书。
wǒ xǐ huan kàn shū 。
I like to read books.
这本书很有意思。
zhè běn shū hěn yǒu yì sī 。
This book is very interesting.
你有没有中文书？
nǐ yǒu méi yǒu zhōng wén shū ？
Do you have any Chinese books?
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
和平 · Peace钱 · Money闭嘴 · Shut up
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