Definitions

chū (verb) to go out; to come out
chū (verb) to occur; to happen
chū (verb) to produce; to put forth
chū (verb) to go beyond; to exceed

Etymology

Pictograph of a foot () exiting a cave ().

About

The character 出 (chū) is a compound ideograph depicting the action of emerging or departing. Its upper component is an inverted form of 止 (zhǐ), representing a foot in motion, stepping upward from the lower component 凵 (qǔ), which signifies a pit or enclosure. This structure conveys the core meaning of moving outward or exiting a starting point. In modern Chinese, it functions as a verb meaning "to go out" or "to produce", and also serves as a directional complement to other verbs, indicating outward movement or the revelation of something.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

去了。

Tā chūqù le.

He went out.

请快一点来。

Qǐng kuài yīdiǎn chūlái.

Please come out quickly.

我们明天早上发。

Wǒmen míngtiān zǎoshang chūfā.

We will set off tomorrow morning.

这本书去年版了。

Zhè běn shū qùnián chūbǎn le.

This book was published last year.

我国口很多商品。

Wǒguó chūkǒu hěnduō shāngpǐn.

Our country exports many goods.

问题终于现了。

Wèntí zhōngyú chūxiàn le.

The problem finally appeared.

他跑完步了很多汗。

Tā pǎowán bù chūle hěnduō hàn.

He sweated a lot after running.

这个方案自他的建议。

Zhège fāng'àn chū zì tā de jiànyì.

This plan originated from his suggestion.