tou4 syu1圖書图书
Jyutpingtou4 syu1
Yaletòuh syū
Definition
A book; a bound volume of printed pages.
neutralschool
How it's used
While the term refers to books in a general sense, it is most frequently encountered in institutional or formal contexts like schools or public libraries. In everyday casual conversation, native speakers almost exclusively use 書 instead of the full form. Using the full form in casual settings can sound slightly academic or overly formal.
Measure word
bun2本búnExamples
There are many books here that can be borrowed.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this term when referring to a specific book they are holding or reading, but it is better to simply use 書 in those situations to sound natural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
