How to Write 尌 (shù) — Meaning “to stand / to set up (archaic)”

Picture a drum (壴) that needs to be placed upright. A hand (寸) comes and holds it steady so it stands. This image links the components to the meaning "to stand/set up."

Write the left part 壴 first with all horizontal strokes from top to bottom, then add the right part 寸. A common mistake is making the left side too tall; keep both parts balanced and similar in height.

Visually, 尌 has 壴 (drum) on the left, while 尃 has 甫 (a seedling) and 射 has 身/矢 (body/arrow). Meaning-wise, 尌 is an archaic word for "set up," 射 means "to shoot" (modern), and 尃 means "to spread" (rare).

尌 is archaic and almost never used in daily conversation. It appears in classical texts or set phrases like 尌立 (to establish) and 尌鼓 (to set up a drum). Most Chinese learners do not need to actively know it.

Common words containing 尌 include: 尌立 (shù lì) — to establish / to set up (archaic); 尌鼓 (shù gǔ) — to set up a drum (archaic); 尌人 (shù rén) — to cultivate talent / to educate (archaic).