Definitions

shōu (verb) to receive; to collect
shōu (verb) to put away; to store
shōu (verb) to restrain; to stop

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "收" is structured with the hand radical "扌" on the left and the component "攵" on the right, the latter historically associated with action, reflecting its etymological basis in manual gathering or collection. Originally denoting the act of harvesting crops or assembling items, its meaning expanded over time to include receiving objects, accepting ideas, putting things away, and concluding affairs, all deriving from the core notion of bringing together or controlling.

Etymology Hide

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 Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

到一封信。

Wǒ shōu dào yī fēng xìn.

I received a letter.

拾桌子。

Qǐng shōushi zhuōzi.

Please tidy up the table.

他每天快递。

Tā měitiān shōu kuàidì.

He receives packages every day.

我们需要入证明。

Wǒmen xūyào shōurù zhèngmíng.

We need income proof.

公司决定费服务。

Gōngsī juédìng shōufèi fúwù.

The company decided to charge for services.

农民秋天获粮食。

Nóngmín qiūtiān shōuhuò liángshí.

Farmers harvest grain in autumn.

藏了很多古董。

Tā shōucáng le hěnduō gǔdǒng.

She has collected many antiques.

政府回了之前的政策。

Zhèngfǔ shōuhuí le zhīqián de zhèngcè.

The government took back the previous policy.