书 (shū): meaning and use in a Chinese name
The character 书, pronounced shū, means "book, letter, document; writings". It has 4 strokes and belongs to the ⼄ radical (No.5). Below: what it means, how it is built, the words it appears in, and how it works in a name.
Quick facts
| Character | 书 |
| Pinyin | shū |
| Meaning | book, letter, document; writings |
| Strokes | 4 |
| Radical | ⼄ (No. 5) |
| HSK level | newest-1 |
What 书 means
book, letter, document; writings. This is the sense recorded in the Unihan database; in a name it carries that meaning into the person’s name.
The character's structure
书 is written with 4 strokes under the ⼄ radical (No.5). Stroke count matters for two reasons: in naming it affects how the character balances with its pair, and in design it determines the minimum size at which the character stays legible. Characters with fewer, longer strokes hold up better at small sizes than dense ones.
Common words with 书
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 读书 | dú shū | to read a book | newest-1 |
| 图书馆 | tú shū guǎn | library | newest-3 |
| 秘书 | mì shū | secretary | newest-5 |
| 证书 | zhèng shū | credentials | newest-5 |
| 书面 | shū miàn | in writing | newest-6 |
| 书店 | shū diàn | bookstore | newest-1 |
Words and levels from the HSK vocabulary list; meanings from CC-CEDICT.
Using 书 in a Chinese name
书 carries a positive, explainable meaning, which is what a name character should do. When you pair it, choose a second character with a complementary meaning and a different tone — repeated tones sound clumsy. Then say the full name with the family name aloud and listen for unintended homophones.
Name combinations
Each combination pairs 书 with a common surname. The best choice depends on the full name's sound and meaning.
Frequently asked questions
What does 书 mean?
书 (shū) means “book, letter, document; writings”.
How do you pronounce 书?
书 is pronounced shū in Mandarin.
How many strokes does 书 have?
书 has 4 strokes, with the radical ⼄ (5).
Is 书 suitable for a Chinese name?
Yes — 书 is used in given names, and it appears in everyday words such as 读书、图书馆、秘书. Whether it reads more masculine or feminine depends on the character it is paired with.
What characters pair well with 书?
Pair it with a character of complementary meaning and a different tone. Say the full name aloud with the surname before deciding.
Get a name built from your birth date and Five Elements, with the meaning of every character.
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Character data: Unihan (Unicode) · words: HSK vocabulary & CC-CEDICT · How we verify this