术

術

shù, zhú

丶 + 木

Definitions

shù (noun) method; technique; art

Etymology

Simplified form of 術. Phonosemantic compound. 行 represents the meaning and 朮 represents the sound. The traditional component 行 was removed for simplification. Based on the original meaning "city road". The meaning later shifted to "way", "method", "technique", and "skill".

About

术 is the simplified form of the traditional character 術. Originally, 術 meant a road or path within a city. In its structure, the outer component 行 (xíng, 'crossroad, walking') provides the meaning, while the inner 朮 (zhú/shù) gives the sound; 朮 itself depicts a type of glutinous millet plant. The sense shifted from a physical path to abstract concepts: 'way', 'method', 'technique', and 'skill'. During simplification, the entire 行 outer frame was removed, and the top-right dot of 朮 was dropped, creating 术. As a result, the modern character no longer visually carries a semantic element, but it retains all the extended meanings inherited from 術.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他学习艺术。

Tā xuéxí yìshù.

He studies art.

技术很重要。

Jìshù hěn zhòngyào.

Technology is important.

医生做手术。

Yīshēng zuò shǒushù.

The doctor performs surgery.

魔术表演开始了。

Móshù biǎoyǎn kāishǐ le.

The magic show has started.

他在学术上很努力。

Tā zài xuéshù shàng hěn nǔlì.

He works hard in academia.

武术训练很辛苦。

Wǔshù xùnliàn hěn xīnkǔ.

Martial arts training is very tough.

球队的战术改变了。

Qiúduì de zhànshù gǎibiàn le.

The team's tactics have changed.

这种艺术形式融合了多种技术。

Zhè zhǒng yìshù xíngshì rónghé le duō zhǒng jìshù.

This art form integrates multiple techniques.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 丶

Component: 木

术