图书

• Pinyin: tú shū
• Hanzi breakdown: 图 = 囗 (enclosure) + simplified interior; 书 = simplified from 書, depicting a hand holding a brush

Meaning

Books; publications. A formal term for books, especially in institutional contexts.

More formal than 书 alone. Commonly used in compound words like 图书馆 (library), 图书室 (reading room), 图书出版 (book publishing). Encompasses all printed publications including books, periodicals, and reference materials.

Examples

1. 学校图书馆新进了一批专业图书，供研究生参考。 The school library has acquired a new batch of professional books for graduate students' reference.
2. 这家图书出版公司专门出版儿童读物。 This book publishing company specializes in children's books.
3. 现在电子图书越来越流行，很多人不再买纸质书了。 E-books are becoming increasingly popular now, and many people no longer buy physical books.

Usage Guide

Context: education, publishing, libraries

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 图书馆的图书可以借阅两周。(Library books can be borrowed for two weeks.)
• 这是一本专业图书。(This is a professional publication.)

Don't Say

• 我买了一本图书 — 日常口语直接说'书'就行，'图书'用于正式场合或机构名称

Origin & History

Compound of 图 (picture, diagram) + 书 (book, writing). Originally referred to illustrated books and documents, now a general formal term for books.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal