Definitions

shū (verb) to express; to give expression to
shū (verb) to relieve

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

抒 is a phono-semantic compound with the hand radical 扌 on the left, indicating a physical action, and the right component 予, meaning to give or grant, which provides the phonetic element. Its earliest meanings referred to the manual actions of scooping, ladling, or emptying a container. Over time, this concept of physical release evolved metaphorically, and the character now primarily means to express or articulate inner thoughts and feelings. This shift transformed a word for pouring liquid into a standard term for voicing emotions in speech and writing.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

发自己的情感。

Tā shūfā zìjǐ de qínggǎn.

He expresses his own emotions.

这首诗很情。

Zhè shǒu shī hěn shūqíng.

This poem is very lyrical.

写家乡的美景。

Tā shūxiě jiāxiāng de měijǐng.

He describes the beautiful scenery of his hometown.

她用音乐发内心感受。

Tā yòng yīnyuè shūfā nèixīn gǎnshòu.

She uses music to express her inner feelings.

他在日记中怀。

Tā zài rìjì zhōng shūhuái.

He expresses his feelings in his diary.

这篇文章发了作者对自然的热爱。

Zhè piān wénzhāng shūfāle zuòzhě duì zìrán de rè'ài.

This article expresses the author's love for nature.

通过绘画,他发了心中难以言表的情感。

Tōngguò huìhuà, tā shūfāle xīn zhōng nányǐ yán biǎo de qínggǎn.

Through painting, he expressed the emotions that are hard to describe in his heart.

艺术家们常常借助作品发对社会现象的深刻思考。

Yìshù jiāmen chángcháng jièzhù zuòpǐn shūfā duì shèhuì xiànxiàng de shēnkè sīkǎo.

Artists often use their works to express deep reflections on social phenomena.