寿 shòu old age
old age; longevity; lifespan
How it came to be
An old person bent over a stick, above a long winding line, in the full form. The line is a furrow or the years going on. It means length, and so a long life.
How it is used
- Longevity / lifespan - 寿命 (shòumìng) life span (of people, machines, products), 长寿 (chángshòu) long life, 祝寿 (zhùshòu) celebrate a birthday (elder's).
- 寿 is auspicious, tied to old age and birthdays: 寿星 (shòuxing) the birthday celebrant, 寿桃 (shòutáo) longevity peach. 生日 (shēngrì) is the everyday word for birthday; 寿 is honorific for elders.
Characters built with 寿
Words with 寿
Example sentences
- 她用筷子吃寿司。 Tā yòng kuàizi chī shòusī.She's eating her sushi with chopsticks.
- 我喜欢吃日本菜，尤其是寿司。 Wǒ xǐhuan chī Rìběncài, yóuqíshì shòusī.I love Japanese food, especially sushi.