compile books; write a letter
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to compile or edit books (archaic/literary)
literaryLiterary register. Refers to the scholarly work of compiling, editing, or authoring books, especially historical or classical texts.
Tā他
yǐn隐
jū居
shān山
lín林
，
hào耗
shí时
shí十
zǎi载
xiū修
shū书
yī一
bù部
。
He lived in seclusion in the mountains, spending ten years compiling a book.
Zhè这
wèi位
shǐ史
guān官
bì毕
shēng生
xiū修
shū书
，
wèi为
hòu后
rén人
liú留
xià下
le了
bǎo宝
guì贵
de的
shǐ史
liào料
。
This historian spent his life compiling books, leaving precious historical materials for posterity.
verb
to write a letter (archaic/literary)
literaryLiterary or formal register. Used in classical Chinese and modern literary contexts. Often followed by measure words like 一封 (one letter).
Tā他
xiū修
shū书
yī一
fēng封
，
tuō托
rén人
dài带
gěi给
yuǎn远
fāng方
de的
yǒu友
rén人
。
He wrote a letter and asked someone to deliver it to his friend in a distant place.
Jiāng将
jūn军
xiū修
shū书
quàn劝
xiáng降
，
dí敌
jūn军
què却
zhì置
zhī之
bù不
lǐ理
。
The general wrote a letter urging surrender, but the enemy ignored it.
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Lí离
jiā家
shù数
nián年
，
tā他
cóng从
wèi未
xiū修
shū书
huí回
jiā家
。
Having left home for several years, he had never written a letter home.