# 書

| 書 | U+66F8, &#26360; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-66F8 |
| ← 曷 [U+66F7] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 曹 → [U+66F9] |
| 書 | U+2F8CC, &#194764; CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-2F8CC |
| ← 旣 [U+2F8CB] | CJK Compatibility Ideographs Supplement | 晉 → [U+2F8CD] |

## Translingual
### Han character

書 (Kangxi radical 73, 曰+6, 10 strokes, cangjie input 中土日 (LGA), four-corner 5060$_1$, composition ⿳𦘒一曰)

#### Derived characters

* 圕 晝(昼) 𫫒 𪳛 𬣄 𦥌 𭓙 𡳩 𤾭 𮓎 𦘢 𬁫 𭨡 𦧶 𤾳 𢅺 𢆅 𣍚 𣍜 𬮑 𦶕 𨃲

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: page 502, character 12
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 14294
* Dae Jaweon: page 874, character 18
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 1509, character 9
* Unihan data for U+66F8
* Unihan data for U+2F8CC

## Chinese

* 書 (Written Standard Chinese)
* 書 (Cantonese)
* 書 (Classical)
* 書 (Gan)

### Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 書 :
| Western Zhou | Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) | Liushutong (compiled in Ming) |
| Bronze inscriptions | Small seal script | Transcribed ancient scripts |
| | Old Chinese |
| 觰 | *rtaːʔ, *rtaː |
| 諸 | *tjaː, *tja |
| 者 | *tjaːʔ |
| 堵 | *tjaːʔ, *taːʔ |
| 赭 | *tjaːʔ |
| 撦 | *l̥ʰjaːʔ |
| 扯 | *tʰjaːʔ |
| 闍 | *djaː, *taː |
| 奢 | *hljaː |
| 鍺 | *toːlʔ |
| 都 | *taː |
| 醏 | *taː |
| 覩 | *taːʔ |
| 睹 | *taːʔ |
| 暏 | *taːʔ |
| 賭 | *taːʔ |
| 帾 | *taːʔ |
| 楮 | *taːʔ, *tʰaʔ |
| 屠 | *daː, *da |
| 瘏 | *daː |
| 廜 | *daː |
| 鷵 | *daː |
| 緒 | *ljaʔ |
| 豬 | *ta |
| 猪 | *ta |
| 瀦 | *ta |
| 藸 | *ta, *da |
| 櫫 | *ta |
| 褚 | *taʔ, *tʰaʔ |
| 著 | *taʔ, *tas, *da, *taɡ, *daɡ |
| 箸 | *tas, *das |
| 儲 | *da |
| 躇 | *da |
| 櫧 | *tja |
| 藷 | *tja, *djas |
| 蠩 | *tja |
| 煮 | *tjaʔ |
| 渚 | *tjaʔ |
| 煑 | *tjaʔ |
| 陼 | *tjaʔ |
| 翥 | *tjas |
| 署 | *djas |
| 薯 | *djas |
| 曙 | *djas |
| 書 | *hlja |
| 暑 | *hjaʔ |
| 鐯 | *taɡ |
| 擆 | *taɡ |
| 櫡 | *taɡ |
Phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, OC *hlja): semantic 聿 (“writing brush”) + phonetic 者 (OC *tjaːʔ).

### Etymology

Unknown (Schuessler, 2007).

### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): shū (shu$^1$)
       (Zhuyin): ㄕㄨ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): su$^1$
    (Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): fǔ
    (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): фу (fu, I)
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): syu$^1$
    (Dongguan, Jyutping++): syu$^1$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): si$^1$
* Gan (Wiktionary): xy$^1$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): sû
    (Hailu, HRS): shu$^ˋ$
    (Meixian, Guangdong): su$^1$
* Jin (Wiktionary): su$^1$
* Northern Min (KCR): sṳ́
* Eastern Min (BUC): cṳ̆
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): zy$^1$ / sy$^1$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): chu / chir / su / sir / si
    (Teochew, Peng'im): ze$^1$
    (Leizhou, Leizhou Pinyin): zu$^1$ / xi$^1$
* Southern Pinghua (Nanning, Jyutping++): syu$^1$
* Wu (Wugniu)
** (Northern): $^1$sy / $^1$siu / $^1$syu / $^1$shiu
** (Jinhua): $^1$shiu
* Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): xy$^1$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: shū
*** Zhuyin: ㄕㄨ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: shu
*** Wade–Giles: shu$^1$
*** Yale: shū
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shu
*** Palladius: шу (šu)
*** Sinological IPA : /ʂu⁵⁵/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: su$^1$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: su
*** Sinological IPA : /su⁵⁵/
** (Xi'an)
*** Guanzhong Pinyin: fǔ
*** Sinological IPA : /fu²¹/
** (Dungan)
*** Cyrillic and Wiktionary: фу (fu, I)
*** Sinological IPA : /fou²⁴/
    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: syu$^1$
*** Yale: syū
*** Cantonese Pinyin: sy$^1$
*** Guangdong Romanization: xu$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /syː⁵⁵/
** (Dongguan, Guancheng)
*** Jyutping++: syu$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /syu²¹³/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: si$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /si³³/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: xy$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /ɕy⁴²/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sû
*** Hakka Romanization System: su$^ˊ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: su$^1$
*** Sinological IPA: /su²⁴/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: shu$^ˋ$
*** Sinological IPA: /ʃu⁵³/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: su$^1$
*** Sinological IPA: /su⁴⁴/
* Jin
** (Taiyuan)
*** Wiktionary: su$^1$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /su¹¹/
* Northern Min
** (Jian'ou)
*** Kienning Colloquial Romanized: sṳ́
*** Sinological IPA : /sy⁵⁴/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: cṳ̆
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sy⁵⁵/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian, Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: zy$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sy⁵³³/
** (Putian, Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: sy$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /ɬy⁵³³/
* zy1 - vernacular;
* sy1 - literary.
* Middle Chinese: syo
Rime :
| Character | 書 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Initial (聲) | 書 (26) |
| Final (韻) | 魚 (22) |
| Tone (調) | Level (Ø) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 傷魚切 |
| Baxter | syo |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /ɕɨʌ/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /ɕiɔ/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /ɕiɔ/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /ɕɨə̆/ |
| Li Rong | /ɕiɔ/ |
| Wang Li | /ɕĭo/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /ɕi̯wo/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | shū |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | syu$^1$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*s-ta/
    (Zhengzhang): /*hlja/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 書 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | shū |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ syo › |
| Old Chinese | /*s-ta/ |
| English | write |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 書 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| No. | 17013 |
| Phonetic component | 者 |
| Rime group | 魚 |
| Rime subdivision | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 書 |
| Old Chinese | /*hlja/ |

### Definitions

書
* book; codex (Classifier: 本; 冊／册; 部)
       Wǒ duì zhè běn shū chǎnshēng le gòngmíng. [Pinyin]
       I resonated with this book.
    唔記得買書／唔记得买书 [Cantonese] ― m$^4$ gei$^3$ dak$^1$ maai$^5$ syu$^1$ [Jyutping] ― to forget to buy textbooks
* letter; document
    證明書／证明书 ― zhèngmíngshū ― certificate
    推薦書／推荐书 ― tuījiànshū ― recommendation letter
    情書／情书 ― qíngshū ― love letter
    家書／家书 ― jiāshū ― letter to or from one's family or home
       “Gào Táiwān Tóngbāo Shū” [Pinyin]
       Message to the Compatriots in Taiwan
* form of a written or printed Chinese character; style of calligraphy; script; font
    楷書／楷书 ― kǎishū ― regular script
    隸書／隶书 ― lìshū ― clerical script
* (literary) Chinese character; writing; script
    From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
    Xiàng Jí shàoshí xué shū, bùchéng, qù; xué jiàn, yòu bùchéng. Xiàng Liáng nù zhī. Jí yuē: “Shū zúyǐ jì xìngmíng éryǐ. Jiàn yī rén dí, bùzú xué, xué wàn rén dí.” [Pinyin]
    As a child, Xiang Yu tried to learn (to read and write) Chinese characters but failed and gave it up; then he tried to learn swordplay, but failed too. Xiang Liang was angry with him. Yu said, "Characters are useful for writing names only. Neither is swordplay worth learning as it can only stand up to one person. I want to learn something that can resist ten thousand people.
* (literary) the art of calligraphy
* (historical) ancient government post in charge of secretarial duties
* (historical) imperial edict
* storytelling
    說書／说书 ― shuōshū ― to perform pingshu (storytelling)
    聽書／听书 ― tīngshū ― to listen to performance of pingshu (storytelling)
* to write
    書寫／书写 ― shūxiě ― to write
    罄竹難書／罄竹难书 ― qìngzhúnánshū ― (of crimes) to be too many to mention
    From: The Book of Rites, c. 4th – 2nd century BCE
    Dòng zé zuǒshǐ shū zhī, yán zé yòushǐ shū zhī. [Pinyin]
    His actions were written down by the recorder of the Left, and his utterances by the recorder of the Right.
* (Cantonese, education) teaching materials (Classifier: 課／课 c; 堂 c) (clarification of this definition is needed)
    聽書／听书 [Cantonese] ― teng$^1$ syu$^1$ [Jyutping] ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
* Short for 書經／书经 (Shūjīng, “the Classic of History”).
* a surname

#### Synonyms

| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 書 |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 書, 書本 collective, 書籍 collective, 書冊 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 書 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 書 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 書 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 書 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 書 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Yantai (Muping) | 書 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Luoyang | 書 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Wanrong | 書 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 書 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xining | 書 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xuzhou | 書 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Yinchuan | 書 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Lanzhou | 書 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Ürümqi | 書 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 書, 書些 collective |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 書 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guiyang | 書 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 書 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Liuzhou | 書 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Dagudi (Maliba) | 書 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Reshuitang (Longling) | 書 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Mae Salong (Lancang) | 書 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Mae Sai (Tengchong) | 書 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Nanjing | 書 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 書, 冊子 euphemistic |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 書 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 書 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 書 |
| Cantonese | Macau | 書 |
| Cantonese | Zhongshan (Shiqi) | 書 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 書 |
| Cantonese | Taishan (Guanghai) | 書 |
| Cantonese | Dongguan | 書 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 書 |
| Cantonese | Hepu (Lianzhou) | 書 |
| Cantonese | Hepu (Shatian) | 書 |
| Cantonese | Beihai | 書 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Nankang) | 書 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Yingpan) | 書 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô) | 書 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà) | 書 |
| Cantonese | Fangchenggang (Fangcheng) | 書 |
| Cantonese | Danzhou | 書 |
| Cantonese | Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) | 書 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 書 |
| Cantonese | Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu) | 書 |
| Cantonese | Móng Cái | 書 |
| Cantonese | Mandalay (Taishan) | 書 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 書 |
| Gan | Lichuan | 書 |
| Gan | Pingxiang | 書 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 書 |
| Hakka | Yudu | 書 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 書 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 書 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 書 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 書 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 書 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 書 |
| Huizhou | Jixi | 書 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 書 |
| Jin | Xinzhou | 書 |
| Jin | Liangcheng | 書 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 書 |
| Northern Min | Songxi | 書 |
| Northern Min | Jianyang | 書 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 書 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou (Changle) | 書 |
| Eastern Min | Lianjiang | 書 |
| Eastern Min | Fuqing | 書 |
| Eastern Min | Yongtai | 書 |
| Eastern Min | Minqing | 書 |
| Eastern Min | Gutian | 書 |
| Eastern Min | Pingnan | 書 |
| Eastern Min | Luoyuan | 書 |
| Eastern Min | Fu'an | 書 |
| Eastern Min | Ningde | 書 |
| Eastern Min | Xiapu | 書 |
| Eastern Min | Zherong | 書 |
| Eastern Min | Shouning | 書 |
| Eastern Min | Zhouning | 書 |
| Eastern Min | Fuding | 書冊, 書 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 冊, 書冊 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 冊, 書, 書冊 |
| Southern Min | Jinjiang | 冊 |
| Southern Min | Yongchun | 冊, 書 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 冊 |
| Southern Min | Zhangpu | 冊 |
| Southern Min | New Taipei (Tamsui) | 書 |
| Southern Min | New Taipei (Pingxi) | 書 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 冊 |
| Southern Min | Tainan (Anping) | 冊 |
| Southern Min | Penghu (Xiyu) | 書 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 冊 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 冊 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 冊 |
| Southern Min | Medan (Hokkien) | 冊 |
| Southern Min | Longyan | 書冊 |
| Southern Min | Zhangping | 冊 |
| Southern Min | Zhangping (Yongfu) | 冊 |
| Southern Min | Datian | 書 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 書 |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 書, 書冊 |
| Southern Min | Jieyang | 書, 書冊 |
| Southern Min | Haifeng | 冊 |
| Southern Min | Bangkok (Teochew) | 書 |
| Southern Min | Chiang Mai (Teochew) | 書 |
| Southern Min | Hat Yai (Teochew) | 書 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 書, 冊 |
| Southern Min | Pontianak (Teochew) | 書 |
| Southern Min | Leizhou | 冊 |
| Southern Min | Wenchang | 冊 |
| Southern Min | Haikou | 冊 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hainanese) | 冊 |
| Puxian Min | Putian | 冊 |
| Puxian Min | Putian (Donghai, Chengxiang) | 冊 |
| Puxian Min | Putian (Jiangkou, Hanjiang) | 冊 |
| Puxian Min | Putian (Nanri, Xiuyu) | 冊 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou | 冊 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou (Fengting) | 冊 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou (Youyang) | 冊 |
| Central Min | Yong'an | 書 |
| Central Min | Sanming (Shaxian) | 書 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Sanxiang) | 書 |
| Southern Pinghua | Nanning (Tingzi) | 書 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 書 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Chongming) | 書 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 書 |
| Wu | Danyang | 書 |
| Wu | Hangzhou | 書 |
| Wu | Ningbo | 書 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 書 |
| Wu | Jinhua | 書 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 書 |
| Xiang | Xiangxiang | 書 |
| Xiang | Loudi | 書 |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 書 |
* (letter):
* 信
* 信件 (xìnjiàn)
* 信函 (xìnhán)
* 信札 (xìnzhá)
* 八行 (bāháng) (literary)
* 八行書 / 八行书 (bāhángshū) (literary)
* 函件 (hánjiàn)
* 尺牘 / 尺牍 (chǐdú) (literary)
* 尺素 (chǐsù) (literary, figurative)
* 手書 / 手书 (shǒushū) (literary)
* 手簡 / 手简 (shǒujiǎn) (literary)
* 書信 / 书信 (shūxìn) (formal)
* 書函 / 书函 (shūhán)
* 書札 / 书札 (shūzhá) (literary)
* 書牘 / 书牍 (shūdú) (literary)
* 書簡 / 书简 (shūjiǎn) (literary)
* 筆札 / 笔札 (bǐzhá) (literary, figurative)
* 簡 / 简 (jiǎn) (literary, or in compounds)
* 鴻 / 鸿 (hóng) (literary, figurative)
| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 書, 函, 書札, 書函, 便紙 Korea |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 信, 函, 書信, 信件, 信函, 信札, 函件, 書函, 書簡, 書牘, 書札 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 信 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 信 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 信 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 信 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 信 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Yantai (Muping) | 信 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Luoyang | 信 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Wanrong | 信 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 信 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xining | 信 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xuzhou | 信 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Yinchuan | 信 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Lanzhou | 信 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Ürümqi | 信 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 信 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 信 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guiyang | 信 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 信 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Liuzhou | 信 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Dagudi (Maliba) | 信 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Reshuitang (Longling) | 信 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Mae Salong (Lancang) | 信 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Mae Sai (Tengchong) | 信 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Nanjing | 信 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 信 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 信 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 信 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 信 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Macau | 信 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Panyu) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Conghua) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Zengcheng) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Foshan | 信 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shunde) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Sanshui) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Zhongshan (Shiqi) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Doumen) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Baisha) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Xinhui) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 信 |
| Cantonese | Kaiping (Chikan) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Enping (Niujiang) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Heshan (Yayao) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Dongguan | 信 |
| Cantonese | Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Shaoguan | 信 |
| Cantonese | Yunfu | 信 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 信 |
| Cantonese | Xinyi | 信 |
| Cantonese | Lianjiang | 信 |
| Cantonese | Beihai | 信 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Fangchenggang (Fangcheng) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu) | 信 |
| Cantonese | Móng Cái | 信 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 信 |
| Gan | Lichuan | 信 |
| Gan | Pingxiang | 信 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 信 |
| Hakka | Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua) | 信 |
| Hakka | Dongguan (Qingxi) | 信 |
| Hakka | Shenzhen (Shatoujiao) | 信 |
| Hakka | Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui) | 信 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Shuizhai) | 信 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Huacheng) | 信 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Changbu) | 信 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Mianyang) | 信 |
| Hakka | Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua) | 信 |
| Hakka | Luhe | 信仔 |
| Hakka | Yudu | 信 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 信仔 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 信仔 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 信仔 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 信 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 信仔, 信 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 批, 信 |
| Hakka | Hong Kong | 信 |
| Huizhou | Jixi | 信 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 信 |
| Jin | Xinzhou | 信 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 信 |
| Northern Min | Songxi | 信 |
| Northern Min | Jianyang | 信 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 批 |
| Eastern Min | Gutian | 批 |
| Eastern Min | Pingnan | 批, 信 |
| Eastern Min | Ningde | 批 |
| Eastern Min | Zhouning | 批 |
| Eastern Min | Fuding | 信 |
| Eastern Min | Matsu | 批 |
| Eastern Min | Singapore (Fuqing) | 批 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 批, 批信 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 批, 批信 |
| Southern Min | Yongchun | 批 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 批, 批信 |
| Southern Min | Zhao'an | 批 |
| Southern Min | Taipei | 批 |
| Southern Min | New Taipei (Sanxia) | 批 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung | 批 |
| Southern Min | Yilan | 批 |
| Southern Min | Changhua (Lukang) | 批 |
| Southern Min | Taichung | 批 |
| Southern Min | Taichung (Wuqi) | 批 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 批, 批信 |
| Southern Min | Taitung | 批 |
| Southern Min | Hsinchu | 批 |
| Southern Min | Kinmen | 批 |
| Southern Min | Penghu (Magong) | 批 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 批 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 批, 批信 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 批 |
| Southern Min | Longyan | 信 |
| Southern Min | Datian | 信 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 信, 批 international incoming letters |
| Southern Min | Bangkok (Teochew) | 信, 家批 dated |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 信, 批 |
| Southern Min | Batam (Teochew) | 信 |
| Southern Min | Leizhou | 信 |
| Southern Min | Wenchang | 信 domestic, 批 international |
| Southern Min | Haikou | 信 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hainanese) | 信, 批 |
| Puxian Min | Putian | 批 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou | 批 |
| Puxian Min | Fuding (Aoyao) | 批 |
| Central Min | Yong'an | 信 |
| Central Min | Sanming (Shaxian) | 信 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi) | 信 |
| Southern Pinghua | Nanning (Tingzi) | 信 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 信 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Chongming) | 信 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 信 |
| Wu | Danyang | 信 |
| Wu | Ningbo | 信 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 信 |
| Wu | Jinhua | 信 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 信 |
| Xiang | Loudi | 信 |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 信 |

### Compounds

* 上書 / 上书 (shàngshū)
* 下書 / 下书 (xiàshū)
* 三朝書 / 三朝书
* 不書 / 不书
* 中書 / 中书 (zhōngshū)
* 丹書 / 丹书
* 代書 / 代书 (dàishū)
* 休書 / 休书 (xiūshū)
* 佐書 / 佐书
* 但書 / 但书 (dànshū)
* 佛書 / 佛书
* 來書 / 来书
* 修書 / 修书 (xiūshū)
* 偶書 / 偶书
* 偽書 / 伪书 (wěishū)
* 傳道書 / 传道书 (Chuándàoshū)
* 全書 / 全书 (quánshū)
* 八書 / 八书
* 六書 / 六书 (liùshū)
* 兵書 / 兵书 (bīngshū)
* 冊書 / 册书
* 出書 / 出书 (chūshū)
* 分書 / 分书
* 刑書 / 刑书
* 判書 / 判书
* 刻書 / 刻书
* 券書 / 券书 (quànshū)
* 制書 / 制书
* 叢書 / 丛书 (cóngshū)
* 古書 / 古书 (gǔshū)
* 史書 / 史书 (shǐshū)
* 周書 / 周书
* 商書 / 商书
* 唸書 / 念书 (niànshū)
* 唱書 / 唱书
* 善書 / 善书
* 四書 / 四书 (Sìshū)
* 回書 / 回书 (huíshū)
* 國書 / 国书 (guóshū)
* 團書 / 团书
* 圖書 / 图书 (túshū)
* 圖書館 / 图书馆
* 坤書 / 坤书
* 填書 / 填书
* 夏書 / 夏书 (Xià Shū)
* 大書 / 大书 (dàshū)
* 天書 / 天书 (tiānshū)
* 奉書 / 奉书
* 女書 / 女书 (Nǚshū)
* 奴書 / 奴书
* 好書 / 好书
* 子書 / 子书
* 字書 / 字书 (zìshū)
* 宋書 / 宋书
* 官書 / 官书
* 宣誓書 / 宣誓书 (xuānshìshū)
* 家書 / 家书 (jiāshū)
* 寄書 / 寄书 (jìshū)
* 密書 / 密书 (mìshū)
* 寫書 / 写书 (xiěshū)
* 寶書 / 宝书
* 專書 / 专书
* 尚書 / 尚书 (shàngshū)
* 尺書 / 尺书
* 左書 / 左书
* 帛書 / 帛书 (bóshū)
* 弔書 / 吊书
* 御書 / 御书
* 復書 / 复书
* 志書 / 志书 (zhìshū)
* 快書 / 快书 (kuàishū)
* 念書 / 念书 (niànshū)
* 情書 / 情书 (qíngshū)
* 憲書 / 宪书
* 戒書 / 戒书
* 戰書 / 战书 (zhànshū)
* 房書 / 房书
* 手書 / 手书 (shǒushū)
* 批書 / 批书
* 投書 / 投书 (tóushū)
* 指書 / 指书
* 捎書 / 捎书
* 捷書 / 捷书 (jiéshū)
* 損書 / 损书
* 摹書 / 摹书
* 擁書 / 拥书
* 攻書 / 攻书
* 故書 / 故书
* 教書 / 教书 (jiāoshū)
* 敕書 / 敕书 (chìshū)
* 文書 / 文书 (wénshū)
* 新書 / 新书 (xīnshū)
* 方書 / 方书
* 日書 / 日书 (rìshū)
* 春書 / 春书
* 晒書
* 晉書 / 晋书
* 晾書 / 晾书
* 曆書 / 历书 (lìshū)
* 曝書 / 曝书
* 書中自有顏如玉 / 书中自有颜如玉 (shū zhōng zì yǒu yán rú yù)
* 書中自有黃金屋 / 书中自有黄金屋 (shū zhōng zì yǒu huángjīn wū)
* 書丹 / 书丹 (shūdān)
* 書亭 / 书亭 (shūtíng)
* 書信 / 书信 (shūxìn)
* 書傳 / 书传
* 書僮 / 书僮
* 書儀 / 书仪
* 書冊 / 书册 (shūcè)
* 書函 / 书函 (shūhán)
* 書刀 / 书刀 (shūdāo)
* 書刊 / 书刊 (shūkān)
* 書包 / 书包 (shūbāo)
* 書卷 / 书卷 (shūjuàn)
* 書卷氣 / 书卷气 (shūjuànqì)
* 書口 / 书口 (shūkǒu)
* 書史 / 书史
* 書名 / 书名 (shūmíng)
* 書吏 / 书吏
* 書名號 / 书名号 (shūmínghào)
* 書呈 / 书呈
* 書呆子 / 书呆子 (shūdāizi)
* 書品 / 书品
* 書商 / 书商 (shūshāng)
* 書單 / 书单 (shūdān)
* 書坊 / 书坊 (shūfāng)
* 書城 / 书城 (shūchéng)
* 書城路 / 书城路 (Shūchénglù)
* 書場 / 书场
* 書報 / 书报 (shūbào)
* 書塾 / 书塾
* 書壇 / 书坛 (shūtán)
* 書夾 / 书夹
* 書契 / 书契 (shūqì)
* 書套 / 书套 (shūtào)
* 書子 / 书子
* 書學 / 书学
* 書客 / 书客 (shūkè)
* 書家 / 书家 (shūjiā)
* 書寓 / 书寓
* 書寫 / 书写 (shūxiě)
* 書局 / 书局 (shūjú)
* 書屋 / 书屋
* 書展 / 书展 (shūzhǎn)
* 書市 / 书市 (shūshì)
* 書帙 / 书帙
* 書帕 / 书帕
* 書帷 / 书帷
* 書帽 / 书帽
* 書店 / 书店 (shūdiàn)
* 書庫 / 书库 (shūkù)
* 書廚 / 书厨 (shūchú)
* 書影 / 书影 (shūyǐng)
* 書後 / 书后
* 書心 / 书心
* 書房 / 书房 (shūfáng)
* 書扉 / 书扉
* 書手 / 书手
* 書攤 / 书摊 (shūtān)
* 書攤兒 / 书摊儿
* 書啟 / 书启
* 書會 / 书会
* 書本 / 书本 (shūběn)
* 書札 / 书札 (shūzhá)
* 書本兒 / 书本儿 (shūběnr)
* 書林 / 书林
* 書柬 / 书柬 (shūjiǎn)
* 書架 / 书架 (shūjià)
* 書格 / 书格
* 書案 / 书案 (shū'àn)
* 書桌 / 书桌 (shūzhuō)
* 書桌兒 / 书桌儿
* 書格子 / 书格子
* 書業 / 书业 (shūyè)
* 書櫃 / 书柜 (shūguì)
* 書櫥 / 书橱 (shūchú)
* 書歸正傳 / 书归正传
* 書殼 / 书壳
* 書法 / 书法 (shūfǎ)
* 書淫 / 书淫 (shūyín)
* 書牘 / 书牍 (shūdú)
* 書物 / 书物
* 書理 / 书理
* 書生 / 书生 (shūshēng)
* 書生氣 / 书生气 (shūshēngqì)
* 書畫 / 书画 (shūhuà)
* 書疏 / 书疏
* 書痴 / 书痴
* 書癡 / 书痴
* 書皮 / 书皮 (shūpí)
* 書皮兒 / 书皮儿
* 書目 / 书目 (shūmù)
* 書眉 / 书眉
* 書社 / 书社 (shūshè)
* 書種 / 书种
* 書稿 / 书稿 (shūgǎo)
* 書空 / 书空
* 書策 / 书策
* 書篋 / 书箧 (shūqiè)
* 書箱 / 书箱 (shūxiāng)
* 書簏 / 书簏
* 書簡 / 书简 (shūjiǎn)
* 書籍 / 书籍 (shūjí)
* 書籤 / 书签 (shūqiān)
* 書籤兒 / 书签儿
* 書紳 / 书绅
* 書經 / 书经 (shūjīng)
* 書翰 / 书翰
* 書聖 / 书圣
* 書背 / 书背
* 書脊 / 书脊 (shūjǐ)
* 書腦 / 书脑
* 書膽 / 书胆
* 書舖 / 书铺 (shūpù)
* 書茶館兒 / 书茶馆儿
* 書號 / 书号 (shūhào)
* 書號兒 / 书号儿
* 書蝨 / 书虱
* 書蟲 / 书虫 (shūchóng)
* 書蠹 / 书蠹
* 書衣 / 书衣
* 書裙 / 书裙
* 書記 / 书记 (shūjì)
* 書評 / 书评 (shūpíng)
* 書譜 / 书谱 (Shū Pǔ)
* 書跡 / 书迹 (shūjì)
* 書辦 / 书办
* 書迷 / 书迷 (shūmí)
* 書鋪 / 书铺 (shūpù)
* 書錄 / 书录
* 書鎮 / 书镇 (shūzhèn)
* 書院 / 书院 (shūyuàn)
* 書面 / 书面 (shūmiàn)
* 書面語 / 书面语 (shūmiànyǔ)
* 書頁 / 书页 (shūyè)
* 書題 / 书题
* 書館 / 书馆 (shūguǎn)
* 書香 / 书香 (shūxiāng)
* 書體 / 书体 (shūtǐ)
* 書鼓 / 书鼓
* 書齋 / 书斋 (shūzhāi)
* 本書 / 本书 (běnshū)
* 村書 / 村书
* 板書 / 板书 (bǎnshū)
* 校書 / 校书
* 梁書 (Liáng Shū)
* 梵書 / 梵书
* 楷書 / 楷书 (kǎishū)
* 榜書 / 榜书 (bǎngshū)
* 樣書 / 样书
* 模書 / 模书
* 檄書 / 檄书
* 正書 / 正书
* 殳書 / 殳书
* 法書 / 法书 (fǎshū)
* 洋書 / 洋书
* 洛書 / 洛书
* 溫書 / 温书 (wēnshū)
* 漢書 / 汉书 (Hànshū)
* 漆書 / 漆书 (qīshū)
* 焚書 / 焚书 (fénshū)
* 爰書 / 爰书 (yuánshū)
* 牓書 / 榜书
* 玉書 / 玉书
* 理書 / 理书
* 琴書 / 琴书
* 璽書 / 玺书 (xǐshū)
* 生書 / 生书
* 異書 / 异书
* 盟書 / 盟书
* 盡信書不如無書 / 尽信书不如无书 (jìn xìn shū bùrú wú shū)
* 直書 / 直书 (zhíshū)
* 看書 / 看书 (kànshū)
* 相書 / 相书
* 真書 / 真书 (zhēnshū)
* 短書 / 短书
* 祕書 / 秘书 (mìshū)
* 祟書 / 祟书
* 禁書 / 禁书 (jìnshū)
* 禮書 / 礼书
* 私書 / 私书 (sīshū)
* 移書 / 移书
* 竹書 / 竹书 (zhúshū)
* 策書 / 策书
* 筋書 / 筋书
* 箭書 / 箭书
* 篆書 / 篆书 (zhuànshū)
* 簡書 / 简书
* 簿書 / 簿书
* 素書 / 素书
* 紫書 / 紫书
* 經書 / 经书 (jīngshū)
* 編書 / 编书
* 緯書 / 纬书 (wěishū)
* 繒書 / 缯书
* 署書 / 署书
* 羽書 / 羽书 (yǔshū)
* 翻書 / 翻书
* 聘書 / 聘书 (pìnshū)
* 聽書 / 听书 (tīngshū)
* 背書 / 背书 (bèishū)
* 臨書 / 临书
* 致書 / 致书 (zhìshū)
* 舊書 / 旧书 (jiùshū)
* 草書 / 草书 (cǎoshū)
* 著書 / 著书 (zhùshū)
* 蓄書 / 蓄书
* 蕊書 / 蕊书
* 薦書 / 荐书
* 藏書 / 藏书 (cángshū)
* 蘚書 / 藓书
* 蟲書 / 虫书
* 蠟書 / 蜡书
* 蠻書 / 蛮书
* 血書 / 血书
* 行書 / 行书 (xíngshū)
* 覺書 / 觉书 (juéshū)
* 觀書 / 观书 (guānshū)
* 評書 / 评书 (píngshū)
* 詔書 / 诏书 (zhàoshū)
* 詩書 / 诗书 (shīshū)
* 說書 / 说书 (shuōshū)
* 諫書 / 谏书
* 講書 / 讲书 (jiǎngshū)
* 謗書 / 谤书 (bàngshū)
* 證書 / 证书 (zhèngshū)
* 譜書 / 谱书
* 護書 / 护书
* 讀書 / 读书 (dúshū)
* 讀書人 / 读书人 (dúshūrén)
* 買書 / 买书
* 貼書 / 贴书
* 貶書 / 贬书
* 賭書 / 赌书
* 赦書 / 赦书
* 車書 / 车书
* 軍書 / 军书
* 載書 / 载书 (zàishū)
* 辟書
* 辭書 / 辞书 (císhū)
* 通書 / 通书 (tōngshū)
* 逸書 / 逸书 (yìshū)
* 達書 / 达书
* 遺書 / 遗书
* 還書 / 还书 (huánshū)
* 鄉書 / 乡书
* 醫書 / 医书 (yīshū)
* 錦書 / 锦书
* 長書 / 长书
* 閒書 / 闲书 (xiánshū)
* 關書 / 关书
* 附書 / 附书
* 降書 / 降书
* 除書 / 除书
* 陳書 / 陈书
* 隋書 / 隋书
* 隸書 / 隶书 (lìshū)
* 雁書 / 雁书
* 雜書 / 杂书
* 離書 / 离书
* 音書 / 音书
* 韻書 / 韵书 (yùnshū)
* 類書 / 类书 (lèishū)
* 飛書 / 飞书
* 飽讀詩書 / 饱读诗书 (bǎodúshīshū)
* 鬮書 / 阄书
* 魏書 / 魏书
* 魚書 / 鱼书
* 鶴書 / 鹤书
* 黑書 / 黑书
* 默書 / 默书 (mòshū)
* 鼓書 / 鼓书

### Descendants

* → Japanese: 書(しょ) (sho)
* → Korean: 서(書) (seo)
* → Vietnamese: thư (書)
"Others":
* → Proto-Tai: *sɯːᴬ
** Thai: สือ (sʉ̌ʉ)

### References

* “書”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
* “Entry #6098”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2025.

## Japanese
### Kanji

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)

#### Readings

* Go-on: しょ (sho, Jōyō)
* Kan-on: しょ (sho, Jōyō)
* Kun: かく (kaku, 書く, Jōyō)、ふみ (fumi, 書)

#### Compounds

* 書(かき)順(じゅん) (kakijun)
* 書(かき)初(ぞめ) (kakizome)
* 書(しょ)院(いん) (shoin)
* 書(しょ)家(か) (shoka)
* 書(しょ)架(か) (shoka)
* 書(しょ)画(が) (shoga)
* 書(しょ)簡(かん) (shokan)
* 書(しょ)記(き) (shoki)
* 書(しょ)式(しき) (shoshiki)
* 書(しょ)写(しゃ) (shosha)
* 書(しょ)籍(せき) (shoseki)
* 書(しょ)体(たい) (shotai)
* 書(しょ)道(どう) (shodō)
* 書(しょ)法(ほう) (shohō)
* 書(しょ)面(めん) (shomen)
* 書(しょ)物(もつ) (shomotsu)
* 書(しょ)類(るい) (shorui)
* 書(しょ)棚(だな) (shodana)
* 楷(かい)書(しょ) (kaisho)
* 教(きょう)科(か)書(しょ) (kyōkasho)
* 行(ぎょう)書(しょ) (gyōsho)
* 原(げん)書(しょ) (gensho)
* 辞(じ)書(しょ) (jisho)
* 新(しん)書(しょ) (shinsho)
* 聖(せい)書(しょ) (seisho)
* 清(せい)書(しょ) (seisho)
* 誓(せい)書(しょ) (seisho)
* 正(せい)書(しょ)法(ほう) (seishohō)
* 草(そう)書(しょ) (sōsho)
* 叢(そう)書(しょ) (sōsho)
* 縦(たて)書(がき) (tategaki)
* 伝(でん)道(どう)の書(しょ) (Dendō no Sho, “Ecclesiastes”)
* 読(どく)書(しょ) (dokusho)
* 図(と)書(しょ) (tosho)
* 図(と)書(しょ)館(かん) (toshokan)
* 葉(は)書(がき) (hagaki)
* 秘(ひ)書(しょ) (hisho)
* 文(ぶん)書(しょ) (bunsho)
* 洋(よう)書(しょ) (yōsho)
* 横(よこ)書(がき) (yokogaki)
* 落(らく)書(がき) (rakugaki)
* 和(わ)書(しょ) (washo)

### Etymology 1

* Kanji in this term
* 書
* しょ Grade: 2
* on'yomi
From Middle Chinese 書 (syo, “writing”).

#### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) しょ [shò] (Heiban – [0])
* (Tokyo) しょ [shóꜜ] (Atamadaka –)
* IPA: [ɕo̞]

#### Noun

書(しょ) • (sho)
* document

### Etymology 2

* Kanji in this term
* 書
* ふみ Grade: 2
* kun'yomi

#### Alternative forms

* 文

#### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) ふみ [fúꜜmì] (Atamadaka –)
* (Tokyo) ふみ [fùmíꜜ] (Odaka –)
* IPA: [ɸɯ̟mʲi]

#### Noun

書(ふみ) • (fumi)
* letter

### References

* 1 2 3 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
* 1 2 3 4 NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN

## Korean
### Etymology

From Middle Chinese 書 (MC syo). Recorded as Middle Korean 셔 (sye) (Yale: sye) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.

### Hanja

Wikisource 書 (eumhun 글 서 (geul seo))
* Hanja form of 서 (“document”).

#### Compounds

* 각서 (覺書, gakseo)
* 낙서 (落書, nakseo)
* 독서 (讀書, dokseo)
* 문서 (文書, munseo)
* 백서 (白書, baekseo)
* 본서 (本書, bonseo)
* 비서 (秘書, biseo)
* 사서 (司書, saseo)
* 서기 (書記, seogi)
* 서당 (書堂, seodang)
* 서류 (書類, seoryu)
* 서면 (書面, seomyeon)
* 서방 (書房, seobang)
* 서신 (書信, seosin)
* 서예 (書藝, seoye)
* 서체 (書體, seoche)
* 서원 (書院, seowon)
* 서재 (書齋, seojae)
* 서적 (書籍, seojeok)
* 서평 (書評, seopyeong)
* 성서 (聖書, seongseo)
* 엽서 (葉書, yeopseo)
* 원서 (原書, wonseo)
* 유서 (遺書, yuseo)
* 저서 (著書, jeoseo)
* 서점 (書店, seojeom)
* 서재 (書齋, seojae)
* 도서 (圖書, doseo)
* 도서관 (圖書館, doseogwan)
* 전도서 (傳道書, Jeondoseo, “Ecclesiastes”)

### References

* 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

## Okinawan
### Kanji

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)

#### Readings

* On (unclassified): し (shi)、す (su)
* Kun: かちゅん (kachun, 書ちゅん)

#### Compounds

* 書(し)物(むち) (shimuchi)
* 上(っわー)書(が)ち ('wāgachi)
* 下(しちゃ)書(が)ち (shichagachi)

## Vietnamese
### Han character

書: Hán Nôm readings: thư

#### Noun

(classifier 幅 (bức), 蘿 (lá)) 書
* chữ Hán form of thư (“(post) a letter”).
    函(hòm)書(thư)電(điện)子(tử) ― an e-mail

#### Affix

書
* chữ Hán form of thư (“(dated or historical) a document, book or compilation”).
    證(chứng)明(minh)書(thư)an identity card
    後(Hậu)漢(Hán)書(thư) ― the Book of (Later) Han
    大(Đại)越(Việt)史(sử)記(ký)全(toàn)書(thư) ― Complete Annals of Đại Việt

#### Usage notes

In Chinese, 書 / 书 (shū) ambiguously means "book", "document" or "letter". In Vietnamese, the senses of "book" and "document" are only fossilized and not productive. The free noun only means "letter". For the free noun meaning "book", use 冊 (sách) instead.

#### Derived terms

* 百科全書 (bách khoa toàn thư)
* 證明書 (chứng minh thư)
* 名冊書 (danh sách thư)
* 電書 (điện thư
* 後漢書 (Hậu Hán thư)
* 書案 (thư án)
* 書電子 (thư điện tử)
* 書記 (thư ký/thư kí)
* 書法 (thư pháp)
* 書院 (thư viện)