吁 (xū) - To sigh & to exhale

吁Tone 1

xū ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 口

信嫣

吁 · xū

To sigh;

to exhale;

an interjection expressing surprise or lament;

also used in transliteration.

To sighto exhalean interjection expressing surprise or lament

Usage highlights

To sighPanting heavilyTo call outTo lamentLong sighXu Yu

Synonyms

  • 叹— to sigh
  • 呼— to call out; to exhale

Antonyms

  • 吸— to inhale

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He let out a long sigh (长吁一声).
  • The workers were breathing heavily (气喘吁吁).
  • It is used in the name of Xu Yu, a historical figure (吁俞).

Collocations

  • To sigh(吁气)
  • Panting heavily(气喘吁吁)
  • To call out(呼吁)
  • To lament(吁嗟)
  • Long sigh(长吁)
  • Xu Yu (a historical figure)(吁俞)

Idioms

  • Panting and out of breath(气喘吁吁)
  • To appeal earnestly(大声疾呼)
  • Sighing with grief(吁天呼地)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted sighing or exhalation, often conveying emotion or exertion.
  • Used in classical texts to express lament, surprise, or earnest appeal.
  • Appears in historical names and transliterations, such as the figure Xu Yu.

FAQ