鬚 (xū) - Beard & whiskers

鬚Tone 1

xū ｜ 22 strokes ｜ radical:

信嫣

鬚 · xū

Beard;

whiskers;

something resembling a beard, such as the beard-like roots of plants or fine filaments.

Beardwhiskerssomething resembling a beard, such as the beard-like

Usage highlights

BeardLong beardWhiskersCorn silkBeard grassThread beard

Synonyms

  • 胡— beard (more commonly used in compound 鬍鬚)
  • 髯— cheek beard; sideburns

Antonyms

  • 光— bare; smooth (antonym to the hairy quality)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He has a long beard (长鬚).
  • The cat's whiskers (猫鬚) are very sensitive.
  • Corn has beard-like silks (玉米鬚).
  • The old man stroked his beard (捋鬚).

Collocations

  • Beard(鬍鬚)
  • Long beard(长鬚)
  • Whiskers(鬚鬚)
  • Corn silk(玉米鬚)
  • Beard grass(鬚草)
  • Thread beard(丝鬚)

Idioms

  • Pull the tiger's whiskers(捋虎鬚)
  • Cut off the beard to avoid disaster(割鬚棄袍)
  • Beard and eyebrows turn white(鬚眉交白)
  • The beard stands on end(鬚髮倒豎)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, a long beard was often associated with wisdom, dignity, and seniority.
  • The beard was considered one of the important symbols of masculinity and maturity.
  • In some historical contexts, cutting off someone's beard was considered a serious insult.

FAQ