How to Write 胥 (xū) — Meaning “All; petty official”

Imagine a clerk (胥吏) walking quickly with a stack of papers — the top part 疋 looks like a running person's legs, and the bottom 月 is like a round belly full of office meals. Or think of “Xu” (pinyin) as the sound a tired clerk makes: “Shhh, I’m busy!” Visualize the character as a moon (月) with a little hat (疋) on it, representing a petty official wearing a cap.

Write 胥 with 9 strokes: first the top component 疋 (7 strokes: horizontal, vertical, horizontal, vertical, horizontal, left-falling, vertical) then the bottom 月 (2 strokes: left-falling, horizontal hook inside). A common mistake is making the top 疋 too wide or the bottom 月 too tall—keep the top slightly narrower than the bottom. Also ensure the vertical stroke of 疋 aligns with the center of 月 below.

胥 (xū) has a top part 疋 and bottom 月, while 朊 (ruǎn) has 月 on the left and 元 on the right, meaning “protein” or “tender.” 朋 (péng) is simply two 月 side by side, meaning “friend.” The key visual difference is the top component: 胥 has the distinct 疋 shape, 朊 has 元, and 朋 has two identical 月. Also, 胥 is not in HSK, whereas 朋 is common.

胥 is rarely used alone today but appears in historical or literary terms like 胥吏 (xū lì, petty official or clerk) and in the name 伍子胥 (Wǔ Zǐ Xū, a famous general from ancient China). It can also mean “all” in classical phrases, but this usage is very formal. You may encounter 胥 in historical dramas or classical texts, not in everyday conversation.

Common words containing 胥 include: 胥吏 (xū lì) — Petty official; clerk; 伍子胥 (wǔ zi xū) — Wu Zixu (a famous historical figure); 胥余 (xū yú) — Remainder; surplus.