Definitions
(verb)
must; have to
(noun)
beard; mustache
Etymology
Pictograph of a person with a bearded face. Simplified form of 須. The meaning "must" is a phonetic loan.
About
The character "须" originates from the traditional form "須", a compound ideograph combining "頁" meaning head and "彡" representing beard or hair, thus initially denoting facial hair. Through phonetic borrowing in classical Chinese, it adopted verbal senses such as to await or to need, which over time consolidated into the modal verb expressing necessity or obligation, as in "必须". While the simplified form "须" replaces "頁" with "页", the retained component "彡" continues to echo the character's etymological roots, with the original meaning preserved in lexical items like "胡须".
Example Sentences Hide
你必须早点睡觉。
我们须要更多时间。
学习须要耐心。
这件事须仔细考虑。
进入大楼须出示证件。
完成这个项目须团队合作。
在紧急情况下，须保持冷静。
根据公司规定，员工须按时提交报告。