出

• Pinyin: chū
• Hanzi breakdown: 出 = pictograph of a foot stepping out of an enclosure — to go out

Meaning

To go out; to exit; to come out. Indicates movement from inside to outside.

A core directional verb indicating outward movement. Often combined with other verbs as a complement: 出来 (come out), 出去 (go out), 拿出 (take out), 走出 (walk out). Also used in abstract senses: 出问题 (a problem arises), 出名 (become famous).

Examples

1. 请出去。 Please go out.
2. 太阳出来了。 The sun has come out.
3. 他从房间里走出来了。 He walked out of the room.

Usage Guide

Context: direction, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你出门了吗？(Have you gone out?)
• 他出去买东西了。(He went out to buy things.)

Don't Say

• 出在外面 to mean 'outside' (出 is a verb of motion — for the state of being outside, use 在外面)

Origin & History

An ancient character depicting a foot stepping out of an enclosure, representing the concept of exiting or going out. One of the most basic directional characters.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal