Definitions

surname Xu; Taiwan pr. [xù]
used in 顓頊|颛顼[zhuān xū]; used in 頊頊|顼顼[xū xū]; Taiwan pr. [xù]

Etymology

About

The simplified character 顼 (xū) and its traditional form 頊 are phono-semantic compounds. The left component is the semantic radical 王, which represents jade (玉 - yù) in this side-radical form. The right component is 页/頁 (yè), originally meaning "head", which provides the phonetic element and structural balance. Historically, the character conveyed meanings of looking anxious or having a troubled expression, but this sense is now archaic. In contemporary Chinese, 顼 is virtually obsolete in general usage, surviving almost solely as a proper noun. It is primarily known from the name "Zhuanxu" (颛顼), a legendary emperor in Chinese mythology and one of the mythical Five Emperors. The character's modern existence depends entirely on this specific historical reference, having lost its independent semantic function.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Wu (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

是我的同学。

Wáng Xū shì wǒ de tóngxué.

Wang Xu is my classmate.

喜欢打篮球。

Lǐ Xū xǐhuān dǎ lánqiú.

Li Xu likes playing basketball.

今天没来上班。

Zhāng Xū jīntiān méi lái shàngbān.

Zhang Xu did not come to work today.

在图书馆看书。

Zhào Xū zài túshūguǎn kànshū.

Zhao Xu is reading in the library.

去了北京旅行。

Liú Xū qù le Běijīng lǚxíng.

Liu Xu went to Beijing for travel.

学会了弹钢琴。

Chén Xū xuéhuì le tán gāngqín.

Chen Xu learned to play the piano.

的公司发展很快。

Yáng Xū de gōngsī fāzhǎn hěn kuài.

Yang Xu's company is developing quickly.

的研究成果很突出。

Zhōu Xū de yánjiū chéngguǒ hěn tūchū.

Zhou Xu's research achievements are outstanding.