Dictionary › 许

许

xǔ

HSK 4 Character Traditional 許

What 许 means

1. to allow
2. to permit
3. to promise
4. to praise
5. somewhat
6. perhaps

Other readings

许 is 多音字 — it is read more than one way, and the reading changes the meaning.

• Xǔsurname Xu

Example sentences

• 不许大叫。
  Bù xǔ dà jiào.
  Don't shout.
• 需要准许。
  Xūyào zhǔnxǔ.
  A permit is required.
• 她也许来。
  She may come.
• 我不允许。
  I don't allow it.
• 不许讨论。
  No discussion.
• 你有许多书。
  You have many books.

Words starting with 许

• 许多xǔ duōmany; a lot of; much
• 许可xǔ kěto allow; to permit
• 许可证xǔ kě zhènglicense; authorization; permit
• 许久xǔ jiǔfor a long time; for ages
• 许诺xǔ nuòto promise; to pledge
• 许愿xǔ yuànto make a wish; to make a vow; to promise a reward
• 许下xǔ xiàto make a promise
• 许和xǔ héto allow; permit
• 许可协议xǔ kě xié yìlicensing agreement (for intellectual property)
• 许配xǔ pèito betroth a girl (in arranged marriages)
• 许字xǔ zìbetrothed
• 许下愿心xǔ xià yuàn xīnto express a wish (to a deity)
• 许亲xǔ qīnto accept a marriage proposal
• 许地山Xǔ Dì shānXu Dishan (1893-1941), journalist, publisher and novelist
• 许婚xǔ hūnto become engaged; to affiance (a daughter)
• 许信良Xǔ Xìn liángHsu Hsin-liang (1941-), Taiwanese politician
• 许愿池xǔ yuàn chíwishing pond
• 许旺细胞Xǔ wàng xì bāoSchwann cell (support axon of nerve cell); neurolemmocyte
• 许海峰Xǔ Hǎi fēngXu Haifeng (1957-), PRC sharpshooter, 50m pistol gold medalist at Los Angeles 1984…
• 许仲琳Xǔ Zhòng línXu Zhonglin or Chen Zhonglin 陈仲琳
• 许愿井xǔ yuàn jǐngwishing well
• 许慎Xǔ ShènXu Shen (-147) the compiler of the original Han dynasty dictionary Shuowen Jiezi 说文解字
• 许嫁xǔ jiàallowed to marry
• 许昌市Xǔ chāng ShìXuchang, prefecture-level city in Henan Province 河南省

Words containing 许

• 也许yě xǔperhaps; maybe
• 允许yǔn xǔto permit; to allow
• 或许huò xǔperhaps; maybe
• 不许bù xǔnot to allow; must not; can't
• 些许xiē xǔa few; a little; a bit
• 少许shǎo xǔa little; a few
• 容许róng xǔto permit; to allow
• 特许tè xǔlicense; licensed; concession
• 赞许zàn xǔto praise; to laud
• 准许zhǔn xǔto allow; to grant; to permit
• 兴许xīng xǔ(colloquial) perhaps
• 几许jǐ xǔ(literary) how many; quite a few
• 默许mò xǔto accept tacitly; acquiescence
• 何许人hé xǔ rén(literary) what kind of person
• 期许qī xǔto hope; to expect; expectation(s)
• 应许yīng xǔto promise; to allow
• 如许rú xǔ(literary) like this; such (as this); so much
• 稍许shāo xǔa little; a bit
• 何许hé xǔ(literary) what place; what time; how
• 心许xīn xǔto consent tacitly; unspoken approval
• 开许kāi xǔ(literary) to allow; to permit
• 不准许bù zhǔn xǔforbidden; not allowed
• 特许权tè xǔ quánpatent; franchise; concession
• 应许之地Yīng xǔ zhī DìPromised Land

Characters built on 午

These share the phonetic component 午 (wǔ), which is why their readings rhyme. Learning them as a family is far cheaper than learning them one at a time.

• 杵chǔpestle; to poke
• 忤wǔdisobedient; unfilial
• 仵wǔequal; well-matched; to violate
• 迕wǔobstinate, perverse

Characters that look like 许

Easy to confuse on sight. Compare them side by side once and the pair stops costing you.

• 件jiànitem; component; classifier for events, things, clothes etc
• 评píngto discuss; to comment; to criticize
• 佛fúused in 仿佛
• 伟wěibig; large; great
• 诈zhàto cheat; to swindle; to pretend
• 忤wǔdisobedient; unfilial

Sounds the same

Read xǔ, tone for tone, but written differently.

• 诩to brag; popular; lovely
• 栩used in 栩栩; jolcham oak (Quercus serrata)
• 湑abundant; bright; strain spirits
• 醑spiritus; strain spirits
• 冔cap of Yin dynasty
• 糈official pay; sacrificial rice
• 喣to breathe upon
• 姁chatter like old woman; cheerful
• 珝a kind of jade
• 鄦surname Xu; vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty (1046–221 BC)