Pinyin Syllable

Chinese characters pronounced xu

Learn common Chinese characters pronounced xu, including 许 xǔ, 需 xū, 须 xū, 续 xù, 序 xù. Compare tones, meanings, traditional forms, words…

How to Pronounce This Syllable

In xu, the u is ü: a light forward hiss with rounded lips — “xü”, not “soo”.

Initial x

A light, forward hissing sound.

Final u

Keep the lips rounded.

Study Tip

Start with the most common characters (许 xǔ, 需 xū, 须 xū, 续 xù, 序 xù) and lock in their tones. 12 common characters share the sound xu, so lean on words to tell the rest apart.

Learn by Tone

xu turns up here with 4 different tones; a change of tone usually means a different character, so the groups below are split by tone.

1st tone

Taking the 1st tone here: 需, 须, 虚… (4 in total). Lock this tone in your ear before the meaning.

需xūto require; to need; to want; necessity; need 须xūbeard; necessary; must; beard; mustache 虚xūdevoid of content; void; false; empty; vain 吁xū / yùsh; hush; implore

2nd tone

Taking the 2nd tone here: 徐 (1 in total). Lock this tone in your ear before the meaning.

徐xúslow; gentle; Xu (a surname)

3rd tone

Taking the 3rd tone here: 许 (1 in total). Lock this tone in your ear before the meaning.

许xǔto allow; to permit; to praise; (surname)

4th tone

Taking the 4th tone here: 续, 序, 绪… (6 in total). Lock this tone in your ear before the meaning.

续xùcontinue; replenish 序xùorder; sequence; preface 绪xùbeginnings; clues; mental state; thread 叙xùnarrate; abbreviation for Syria 蓄xùto store 畜chù / xùlivestock; domesticated animal; domestic animal; to raise (animals)

Common Words With This Sound

Seeing xu inside whole words makes it clear which character is meant — here are common ones.

也许yě xǔperhaps; maybe 许多xǔ duōmany; a lot of; much 或许huò xǔperhaps; maybe 需要xū yàoto need; to want; to demand; to require 需求xū qiúrequirement; to require; (economics) demand 必需bì xūto need; to require; essential; indispensable 必须bì xūto have to; must; compulsory; necessarily 胡须hú xūbeard 须知xū zhīkey information; instructions; it must be borne in mind 继续jì xùto continue; to proceed with; to go on with

Characters

12 common characters in this group.

Character#1 许 xǔto allow; to permit; to praise; (surname)Traditional: 許 Character#2 需 xūto require; to need; to want; necessity; needTraditional: 需 Character#3 须 xūbeard; necessary; must; beard; mustacheTraditional: 須 Character#4 续 xùcontinue; replenishTraditional: 續 Character#5 序 xùorder; sequence; prefaceTraditional: 序 Character#6 虚 xūdevoid of content; void; false; empty; vainTraditional: 虛 Character#7 徐 xúslow; gentle; Xu (a surname)Traditional: 徐 Character#8 绪 xùbeginnings; clues; mental state; threadTraditional: 緒 Character#9 叙 xùnarrate; abbreviation for SyriaTraditional: 敘 Character#10 蓄 xùto storeTraditional: 蓄 Character#11 畜 chù / xùlivestock; domesticated animal; domestic animal; to raise (animals)Traditional: 畜 Character#12 吁 xū / yùsh; hush; imploreTraditional: 吁