shòu

寿

Character · Adjective · Noun · VerbTraditional壽

longevity; lifespan; birthday

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

6 senses · 30 examples
1.

adjective

long-lived; long life; longevity

commendatory

Used to describe a person or a blessing of long life.

Zhè这
wèi位
lǎo老
rén人
fēi非
cháng常
jiàn健
kāng康
 ,
shì是
gè个
shòu寿
xīng星
 。

This elderly person is very healthy and is a star of longevity.

Rén人
men们
dōu都
xī希
wàng望
fú福
shòu寿
shuāng双
quán全
 。

Everyone hopes for both happiness and longevity.

Show 3 more examples
Cūn村
lǐ里
rén人
shòu瑞
nián年
fēng丰
 ,
shēng生
huó活
ān安
lè乐
 。

The village has longevity and abundant harvests, and life is peaceful.

Zhù祝
nín您
shòu寿
bǐ比
nán南
shān山
bù不
lǎo老
sōng松
 。

Wishing you longevity greater than the enduring pines of South Mountain.

Tā她
de的
jiā家
zú族
yǐ以
cháng长
shòu寿
zhù著
chēng称
 。

Her family is known for longevity.

2.

noun

age; years of life; lifespan

Refers to the duration of life.

Hè鹤
de的
shòu寿
mìng命
hěn很
cháng长
 。

Cranes have a long lifespan.

Cháng长
shòu寿
shì是
xǔ许
duō多
rén人
de的
zhuī追
qiú求
 。

Longevity is the pursuit of many people.

Show 3 more examples
Xiàn现
dài代
yī医
xué学
yán延
cháng长
le了
rén人
lèi类
de的
píng平
jūn均
shòu寿
mìng命
 。

Modern medicine has extended the average human lifespan.

Tā他
yǐ已
shì是
gāo高
shòu寿
 ,
dàn但
sī思
wéi维
yī依
rán然
qīng清
xī晰
 。

He is already of advanced age, but his thinking remains clear.

Yǎng养
chǒng宠
wù物
kě可
yǐ以
zēng增
jiā加
tā它
men们
de的
shòu寿
shù数
 。

Keeping pets can increase their lifespan.

3.

noun

birthday (especially of an elderly person)

Often used for milestone birthdays (e.g., 60th, 80th).

Nǎi奶
nai奶
jīn今
tiān天
zuò做
shòu寿
 ,
lái来
le了
hěn很
duō多
kè客
rén人
 。

Grandma is celebrating her birthday today, and many guests have come.

Shēng生
rì日
yàn宴
huì会
shàng上
shǎo少
bù不
liǎo了
shòu寿
miàn面
 。

Longevity noodles are indispensable at a birthday banquet.

Show 3 more examples
Wǒ我
men们
zhǔn准
bèi备
wèi为
yé爷
ye爷
de的
jiǔ九
shí十
dà大
shòu寿
bàn办
yī一
gè个
lóng隆
zhòng重
de的
qìng庆
diǎn典
 。

We are preparing a grand celebration for Grandpa's 90th birthday.

Àn按
zhào照
xí习
sú俗
 ,
shòu寿
táo桃
shì是
zhù祝
shòu寿
de的
jí吉
xiáng祥
lǐ礼
wù物
 。

According to custom, longevity peaches are auspicious gifts for birthday celebrations.

Qīn亲
qi戚
péng朋
you友
men们
dōu都
lái来
gěi给
tā他
bài拜
shòu寿
 。

Relatives and friends all came to pay their respects on his birthday.

4.

verb

to wish someone long life (on their birthday)

literary

Classical/literary usage.

Gǔ古
shí时
wǎn晚
bèi辈
cháng常
xiàng向
zhǎng长
bèi辈
shòu寿
yǐ以
jiǔ酒
 。

In ancient times, juniors often toasted their elders to wish them long life.

Shī诗
wén文
zhōng中
cháng常
jiàn见
 '
shòu寿
jūn君
 '
zhī之
yǔ语
 。

Phrases like 'wishing you long life' are often seen in poetry and prose.

Show 3 more examples
Diǎn典
lǐ礼
shàng上
 ,
zhòng众
rén人
jǔ举
bēi杯
wèi为
guó国
wáng王
shòu寿
 。

At the ceremony, everyone raised their glasses to toast the king's longevity.

Cǐ此
huà画
tí题
cí词
 '
sōng松
hè鹤
tóng同
shòu寿
 '
 ,
yù寓
yì意
jí吉
xiáng祥
 。

The inscription on this painting reads 'pines and cranes share longevity,' implying auspiciousness.

Tā他
yǐ以
yī一
shǒu首
shī诗
shòu寿
qí其
ēn恩
shī师
 。

He used a poem to wish his mentor long life.

5.

adjective

funerary; prepared before death; for burial

formal

A euphemism for things prepared for one's own funeral.

Yǒu有
xiē些
lǎo老
rén人
huì会
tí提
qián前
zhǔn准
bèi备
hǎo好
shòu寿
cái材
 。

Some elderly people prepare their coffins in advance.

Àn按
zhào照
chuán传
tǒng统
 ,
shòu寿
yī衣
yào要
yòng用
tè特
dìng定
de的
miàn面
liào料
hé和
yàng样
shì式
 。

According to tradition, burial clothes must be made of specific fabrics and styles.

Show 3 more examples
Zhè这
jiā家
diàn店
zhuān专
mén门
dìng定
zhì制
shòu寿
mù木
 。

This shop specializes in custom-made burial coffins.

Shòu寿
xué穴
zhǐ指
de的
shì是
shēng生
qián前
xuǎn选
hǎo好
de的
mù墓
xué穴
 。

A pre-purchased grave refers to a tomb selected before one's death.

Tā他
zǎo早
zǎo早
zhì置
bàn办
le了
shòu寿
jù具
 ,
yǐ以
miǎn免
gěi给
ér儿
nǚ女
tiān添
má麻
fan烦
 。

He prepared his funeral items early to avoid causing trouble for his children.

6.

noun

a surname

A Chinese family name.

Shòu寿
xiān先
sheng生
shì是
wǒ我
men们
de的
xīn新
lín邻
jū居
 。

Mr. Shou is our new neighbor.

Lì历
shǐ史
shàng上
yǒu有
yī一
wèi位
zhù著
míng名
de的
shū书
fǎ法
jiā家
jiào叫
Shòu寿
Jìng镜
wú吾
 。

In history, there was a famous calligrapher named Shou Jingwu.

Show 3 more examples
Shòu寿
zhè这
gè个
xìng姓
shì氏
bù不
suàn算
hěn很
cháng常
jiàn见
 。

The surname Shou is not very common.

Qǐng请
Shòu寿
nǚ女
shì士
dào到
qián前
tái台
bàn办
lǐ理
shǒu手
xù续
 。

Please ask Ms. Shou to come to the front desk to complete the formalities.

Shòu寿
xìng姓
zhǔ主
yào要
fēn分
bù布
zài在
zhōng中
guó国
de的
mǒu某
xiē些
dì地
qū区
 。

The Shou surname is mainly distributed in certain regions of China.