术 (shù) - skill, technique, art, method & originally referred to roads or paths in ancient

术Tone 4

shù ｜ 5 strokes ｜ radical: 木

姝树

术 · shù

skill, technique, art, method;

originally referred to roads or paths in ancient texts.

skill, technique, art, methodoriginally referred to roads or paths in ancient

Usage highlights

technologyart/martial artsmedical skilltacticsmagicacademic discipline

Synonyms

  • 技— skill, technique
  • 艺— art, craft
  • 法— method, way

Antonyms

  • 拙— clumsy, unskillful

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He has excellent medical skills (医术).
  • We need to improve our teaching methods (教学术).
  • This martial art requires years of practice (武术).
  • Modern technology has changed our lives (技术).

Collocations

  • technology(技术)
  • art/martial arts(艺术/武术)
  • medical skill(医术)
  • tactics(战术)
  • magic(魔术)
  • academic discipline(学术)

Idioms

  • Return from the army with no skills(不学无术)
  • Heartless and unscrupulous(心术不正)
  • The end justifies the means(权术手段)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally meant 'road' or 'path' in ancient Chinese, later extended to mean 'method' or 'way' of doing things.
  • In traditional Chinese culture, 术 often carries connotations of specialized knowledge or craft that requires long-term study and practice.

FAQ