秀 (xiù) is a Chinese character meaning “outstanding”. It is written from 禾 (grain; standing grain) and 乃 (thus; only then), one above the other, and takes 7 strokes.
Build the character for “outstanding; standing out from the rest”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
StartLearn this character
Structure
禾 + 乃
Top–bottom structure
Structure from: IDS ⿱禾乃（现代字形拆分，已对照 hanzi-writer-data 笔顺核验：全字 7 笔 = 禾 5 笔 + 乃 2 笔）
Memory aid
Grain (禾) on top, 乃 curving underneath like a stalk bowing under a heavy, ripe head. In a whole field, that is the one plant that stands out — 秀 is "outstanding".
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
7 strokes
In real words
- 优秀yōu xiùexcellent; outstanding秀 = xiù
- 娟秀juān xiùgraceful; elegant (esp. of handwriting or looks)秀 = xiù
Go deeper
All readings
outstanding; elegant
outstanding; excellent; elegant and refined; (of grain) to come into ear and flower
谷物抽穗开花；引申为特别出色、清丽美好。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 优秀yōu xiùexcellent; outstanding秀 = xiù
- 娟秀juān xiùgraceful; elegant (esp. of handwriting or looks)秀 = xiù
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 秀 mean?
秀 (xiù) means outstanding; excellent; elegant and refined; (of grain) to come into ear and flower.
How do you pronounce 秀?
It is pronounced xiù.
What parts is 秀 made of?
禾 (grain; standing grain) and 乃 (thus; only then), one above the other. The recorded source is: IDS ⿱禾乃（现代字形拆分，已对照 hanzi-writer-data 笔顺核验：全字 7 笔 = 禾 5 笔 + 乃 2 笔）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 秀 have?
7. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 秀?
禾. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 秀?
Common ones are 优秀. The reading of 秀 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.