输

The Chinese character 输 (shū) is composed of two parts: the radical 车 (chē), which means "vehicle", and the phonetic component 兪 (yú), which is related to the idea of "flowing" or "pouring". Together, these components suggest the idea of "transporting goods or people in a vehicle".The earliest known use of the character 输 dates back to the Shang dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BC), where it was used in the sense of "to transport" or "to carry". Over time, the character took on additional meanings, including "to lose" or "to be defeated", as well as "to pay" or "to contribute".In modern Chinese, the character 输 is most commonly used in the sense of "to lose" or "to be defeated". For example, the phrase 输了比赛 (shūle bǐsài) means "to lose a competition", while the phrase 输给对手 (shūgěi duìshǒu) means "to lose to an opponent".The character 输 can also be used in the sense of "to pay" or "to contribute". For example, the phrase 输钱 (shūqián) means "to lose money", while the phrase 输血 (shūxuè) means "to donate blood".In addition to its literal meanings, the character 输 can also be used in a figurative sense. For example, the phrase 输人不输阵 (shūrén bù shūzhèn) means "to lose the battle but not the war", while the phrase 输得起 (shūdĕqǐ) means "to be able to accept defeat".Overall, the character 输 is a versatile character with a rich history and a variety of meanings. It is an important character to learn for HSK learners, as it is used in a wide range of contexts.