Definition
写 (xiě) is the basic, everyday verb for 'to write' — used for writing characters, words, names, or any text by hand. It is much more general than 书写 (shū xiě, formal/literary 'to write characters') or 写作 (xiě zuò, 'to compose literary works'), and is not used for creating objects (做) or repairing (修).
verb
to write
Easily confused
- 泻xièlook-aliketo have diarrhea; to purge (bowels)
- 些xiēsound-alike(classifier) some, a few, several (used after 一, 这, 那, or alone to indicate an indefinite number)
- 血xiěsound-alikeblood
- 鞋xiésound-alikeshoe
- 歇xiēsound-aliketo rest, to take a break
- 邪xiésound-alikeevil, wicked, demonic
- 卸xièsound-aliketo unload, to offload (cargo, goods)
- 斜xiésound-alike(adjective) slanted, oblique, inclined, tilted
- 泄xièsound-aliketo leak out, to discharge (liquid, gas, electricity)
Examples
- 写。Wǒ xiě hànzì.I write Chinese characters.
- 写？Nǐ xiě míngzì ma?Do you write your name?
- 写？Tā xiě shénme?What is he writing?
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