Meanings Jump to a sense… 1. book; document 2. calligraphy; penmanship 3. handwriting 4. letter; note Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 が 書しょ を 習なら う to study/learn calligraphy
She has been learning calligraphy since she was a child.
書しょ が 上手うま い to have good handwriting
He has a reputation for having beautiful handwriting.
〈 人ひと 〉 と 書しょ を 交か わす to exchange letters with someone
The two of them have exchanged letters for many years.
Expressions· 7 前ぜん 掲けい 書しょ aforementioned work; op. cit.; cited work 座ざ 右ゆう の 書しょ one's desk-side book; a book kept at hand for frequent reference 読どく 書しょ 尚しょう 友ゆう through reading, one can befriend the sages of the past Show 2 more Show fewer Related words· 6 本 is the everyday word for a book, while 書 is a more formal or literary term often found in compounds.
書物 is a formal, literary synonym for 書 meaning 'book', used mainly in writing rather than speech.
文書 refers specifically to an official or written document, while 書 is broader and can mean any written work.
手紙 is the standard, everyday word for 'letter', while 書 in this sense is formal and mostly literary.
Show 2 more Show fewer 書道 names the formal art/discipline of calligraphy, while 書 can refer more loosely to calligraphy or a piece of writing.
筆跡 specifically means a person's distinctive handwriting style, a narrower sense of what 書 can mean in this context.
Word family· 399 Show 25 more Show fewer reading (books)
secretary; private secretary · treasured book; secret book
written work; book; writings
books; publications
new book; newly published book · shinsho paperback; compact 17-by-11 cm paperback
this book; this volume · main text; main document · original text; original document
official document; public document; archives
book; volume
calligraphy (esp. East Asian brush calligraphy)
certificate; document of proof; bond; deed
document; letter · writing; contents of a document
note left by a dead person; suicide note; testamentary letter; will · posthumous work; writings left behind
study; library · bookstore; bookshop; publishing company
white paper; government report
official record; written evidence; protocol
secretary; clerk; recording secretary · writing down; recording in writing; putting on record
book review
typeface; font · handwriting style; calligraphic style
study; home office; library
old book; rare book; classic · secondhand book; used book
letter; note; correspondence
librarian
format; prescribed form
library; book storage; stack room · archive (file)
banned book; banning of books
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Written forms 書しょ Usage 100%
Standard kanji spelling for all senses.
ショ Usage <1%
Etymology From Middle Chinese 書 (syo). The character originally depicted a hand holding a brush, representing writing. The Japanese reading しょ is the on'yomi.
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