Meaning
to allow; to permit; to praise; (surname)
Chinese: 允许、答应；也表示大约。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “xu” becomes a different word in each tone. 许 is the 3rd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 也许yě xǔperhaps; maybe
- 许多xǔ duōmany; a lot of; much
- 或许huò xǔperhaps; maybe
- 允许yǔn xǔto permit; to allow
- 不许bù xǔnot to allow; must not; can't
Example Sentence
这里不许吸烟。Zhè lǐ bù xǔ xī yān.Smoking is not allowed here.
这里Zhè lǐhere不许bù xǔnot to allow吸烟xī yānto smoke。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
The speech radical 讠 plus 午 (sound): to give one's word — ‘to allow, permit; to promise; perhaps (也许); somewhat (许多); a place (何许)’. Simplified from 許.
A way to remember it
Speech (讠) granting leave — to allow; perhaps (也许).