Readings: シュウ (Onyomi), ひい.でる (Kunyomi)
Meaning: excellent, outstanding, beautiful, flourishing
The kanji 秀 (shū, hiideru) is formed from two components: 禾 (nogihen), meaning “grain” or “rice plant,” and 乃 (no), which here suggests the idea of “pulling out” or “standing out.” Together, it depicts a rice plant that has grown tall and robust, “standing out” from the rest, thus conveying the meaning of “excellent,” “outstanding,” or “flourishing.”
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 秀 has 7 strokes. It begins with the short left-falling stroke (丿) at the top, followed by the horizontal stroke (一). Then, the vertical stroke (丨) that crosses the horizontal. The next stroke is the right-falling stroke (乀) on the top right. After that comes the long left-falling stroke (ノ) of the 禾 radical, followed by the vertical stroke with a hook (乙), and finally the last right-falling stroke (丶).
Kanji Details
| Radical | 禾 (のぎへん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 7 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | Commonly used in daily life (Joyo Kanji) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- シュウ (Shuu)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- ひいでる (hiideru)
Common Words Using 秀
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 優秀 | ゆうしゅう | excellence, superiority |
| 秀作 | しゅうさく | masterpiece, excellent work |
| 秀麗 | しゅうれい | beauty, grace (often for scenery) |
| 秀才 | しゅうさい | a brilliant person, prodigy |
| 秀逸 | しゅういつ | excellent, superb |
| 秀英 | しゅうえい | outstanding talent, genius |
| 秀抜 | しゅうばつ | pre-eminent, excelling |
| 秀峰 | しゅうほう | superb peak (mountain) |
| 俊秀 | しゅんしゅう | talented person, genius |
| 奇秀 | きしゅう | strange and excellent (rare) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 秀でる | ひいでる | to excel, to surpass |
| 秀でた | ひいでた | excellent, outstanding (adjective form) |
| 秀吉 | ひでよし | Hideyoshi (common male given name, historical figure) |
| 秀樹 | ひでき | Hideki (common male given name) |
| 秀夫 | ひでお | Hideo (common male given name) |
| 秀子 | ひでこ | Hideko (common female given name) |
| 秀和 | ひでかず | Hidekazu (common male given name) |
| 秀明 | ひであき | Hideaki (common male given name) |
| 秀雄 | ひでお | Hideo (another common male given name, often with 雄) |
| 秀久 | ひでひさ | Hidehisa (common male given name) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼は学業において非常に優秀だ。
Kana: かれはがくぎょうにおいてひじょうにゆうしゅうだ。
Romaji: Kare wa gakugyō ni oite hijō ni yūshū da.
English: He is very excellent in academics.
Japanese: 彼女は絵の才能に秀でている。
Kana: かのじょはえのさいのうにひいでている。
Romaji: Kanojo wa e no sainō ni hiidete iru.
English: She excels in her talent for painting.
Japanese: この小説は彼の初期の秀作だ。
Kana: このしょうせつはかれのしょきのしゅうさくだ。
Romaji: Kono shōsetsu wa kare no shoki no shūsaku da.
English: This novel is one of his early masterpieces.
Japanese: その生徒はクラスで一番の秀才だ。
Kana: そのせいとはクラスでいちばんのしゅうさいだ。
Romaji: Sono seito wa kurasu de ichiban no shūsai da.
English: That student is the most brilliant person in the class.
Japanese: 彼のプレゼンテーションは内容も構成も秀逸だった。
Kana: かれのプレゼンテーションはないようもこうせいもきゅういつだった。
Romaji: Kare no purezentēshon wa naiyō mo kōsei mo shūitsu datta.
English: His presentation was superb in both content and structure.
Japanese: 富士山は秀麗な姿で人々を魅了する。
Kana: ふじさんはしゅうれいなすがたでひとびとをみりょうする。
Romaji: Fuji-san wa shūrei na sugata de hitobito o miryō suru.
English: Mount Fuji captivates people with its graceful appearance.
Japanese: 彼は会社の将来を担う秀英として期待されている。
Kana: かれはかいしゃのしょうらいをになうしゅうえいとしてきたいされている。
Romaji: Kare wa kaisha no shōrai o ninau shūei to shite kitai sarete iru.
English: He is expected to be an outstanding talent who will lead the company’s future.
Japanese: 彼のパフォーマンスは他の出場者と比べて秀でていた。
Kana: かれのパフォーマンスはたのしゅつじょうしゃとくらべてひいでていた。
Romaji: Kare no pafōmansu wa hoka no shutsūjōsha to kurabete hiidete ita.
English: His performance was superior compared to other contestants.
Japanese: あの作家のデビュー作はまさに秀作だった。
Kana: あのさっかのデビューさくはまさにしゅうさくだった。
Romaji: Ano sakka no debiyū saku wa masani shūsaku datta.
English: That author’s debut work was truly a masterpiece.
Japanese: 彼はチームの中で特に戦略的な思考に秀でている。
Kana: かれはチームのなかでとくにせんりゃくてきなしこうにひいでている。
Romaji: Kare wa chīmu no naka de tokuni senryakuteki na shikō ni hiidete iru.
English: He particularly excels in strategic thinking within the team.
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