出 chū — to go out, to come out; to produce, to issue, to put forth; to happen (of a problem); a measure word for plays and operas

Pinyin

• chū (first tone, high and level)

to go out, to come out; to produce, to issue, to put forth; to happen (of a problem); a measure word for plays and operas

Character breakdown

• 凵meaning partno entry yetThe pit: a hollow dwelling dug into the ground.
• 出shape partThe oldest form sets a footprint 止 above the pit — a foot stepping out. The modern shape looks like two 山 stacked, but no mountain was ever in it.

Mnemonic

A foot stepping up out of a pit-dwelling — that is the picture, however much the modern five strokes look like two little mountains. It is the exact opposite of 进, and it pairs the same way: 出来 come out, 出去 go out. Then the extensions: 出发 to set off, 出生 to be born, 出租车 a taxi, a vehicle put out for hire.

A memory aid written by HSK Guide editors. It is not an etymology and does not describe the historical origin of the character.

Words containing 出

• 出chū (first tone, high and level)to go out, to come out
• 出来/出來chū (first tone, high and level) lái (second tone, rising)to come out
• 出现/出現chūxiàn (first tone, high and level)to appear, to come into view, to arise
• 出去chū (first tone, high and level) qù (fourth tone, falling)to go out
• 提出tí (second tone, rising) chū (first tone, high and level)to raise (an issue)
• 出发/出發chūfā (first tone, high and level)to set off, to depart (on a journey)
• 演出yǎn (third tone, dipping) chū (first tone, high and level)to act (in a play)
• 出口chū (first tone, high and level) kǒu (third tone, dipping)an exit
• 发出/發出fā (first tone, high and level) chū (first tone, high and level)to issue (an order, decree etc); to send out; to dispatch
• 付出fù (fourth tone, falling) chū (first tone, high and level)to pay; to expend; to invest (energy or time)
• 出生chū (first tone, high and level) shēng (first tone, high and level)to be born
• 出席chūxí (first tone, high and level)to attend, to be present at (formal)
• 指出zhǐ (third tone, dipping) chū (first tone, high and level)to indicate
• 退出tuì (fourth tone, falling) chū (first tone, high and level)to withdraw
• 出色chūsè (first tone, high and level)outstanding, remarkable
• 出示chūshì (first tone, high and level)to show, to produce (for inspection)
• 出版chū (first tone, high and level) bǎn (third tone, dipping)to publish
• 出门/出門chū (first tone, high and level) mén (second tone, rising)to go out
• 作出zuò (fourth tone, falling) chū (first tone, high and level)to put out
• 出租车/出租車chūzūchē (first tone, high and level)taxi, cab
• 看出kàn (fourth tone, falling) chū (first tone, high and level)to make out
• 出于/出於chū (first tone, high and level) yú (second tone, rising)due to
• 出售chū (first tone, high and level) shòu (fourth tone, falling)to sell
• 突出tū (first tone, high and level) chū (first tone, high and level)prominent
• 播出bō (first tone, high and level) chū (first tone, high and level)to broadcast
• 推出tuī (first tone, high and level) chū (first tone, high and level)to push out
• 出场/出場chū (first tone, high and level) chǎng (third tone, dipping)(of a performer) to come onto the stage to perform
• 出事chū (first tone, high and level) shì (fourth tone, falling)to have an accident
• 出血chū (first tone, high and level) xuè (fourth tone, falling)to bleed; bleeding
• 出手chū (first tone, high and level) shǒu (third tone, dipping)to dispose of
• 得出dé (second tone, rising) chū (first tone, high and level)to obtain (a result); to arrive at (a conclusion)
• 出租chū (first tone, high and level) zū (first tone, high and level)to rent
• 查出chá (second tone, rising) chū (first tone, high and level)to find out
• 超出chāo (first tone, high and level) chū (first tone, high and level)to exceed
• 外出wài (fourth tone, falling) chū (first tone, high and level)to go out
• 派出pài (fourth tone, falling) chū (first tone, high and level)to send
• 传出/傳出chuán (second tone, rising) chū (first tone, high and level)to transmit outwards
• 出局chū (first tone, high and level) jú (second tone, rising)(of a batter) to be put out (in baseball); to be dismissed (in cricket)
• 找出zhǎo (third tone, dipping) chū (first tone, high and level)to find
• 认出/認出rèn (fourth tone, falling) chū (first tone, high and level)recognition
• 出卖/出賣chū (first tone, high and level) mài (fourth tone, falling)to offer for sale
• 出名chū (first tone, high and level) míng (second tone, rising)well-known for sth
• 杰出/傑出jié (second tone, rising) chū (first tone, high and level)outstanding
• 出路chū (first tone, high and level) lù (fourth tone, falling)a way out (of a difficulty etc)
• 出自chū (first tone, high and level) zì (fourth tone, falling)to come from
• 出国/出國chū (first tone, high and level) guó (second tone, rising)to go abroad; to leave the country
• 出动/出動chū (first tone, high and level) dòng (fourth tone, falling)to start out on a trip
• 出差chū (first tone, high and level) chāi (first tone, high and level)to go on an official or business trip