What does 出 mean in Chinese?

出 (chū) means "to go out; to come out; to occur; to produce; to go beyond; to rise; to put forth; to happen; classifier for dramas, plays, operas etc" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 2.

How do you pronounce 出?

出 is pronounced "chū" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 出?

出 is an HSK 2 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 2 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 出?

Common words with 出 include 作出 (to put out), 付出 (to pay), 不出所料 (as expected), 交出 (to hand over), 亮出 (to suddenly reveal).

How do you write 出?

出 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 凵. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

出 (chū), to go out

出

chū

to go out; to come out; to occur; to produce

HSK 2verbclassifier5 strokes

Character Breakdown

出 = 山 + 凵

A sprout pushes out of a container — to exit

Radical: 凵 (no. 17)Strokes: 5

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb, classifier) to go out
to come out
to occur
to produce
to go beyond
to rise
to put forth
to happen
classifier for dramas, plays, operas etc

Example Sentences

我现在要出去了。

Wǒ xiànzài yào chūqù le

I'm going out now

Words Containing 出

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
作出	zuò chū	to put out	HSK 5
付出	fù chū	to pay	HSK 5
不出所料	bù chū suǒ liào	as expected
交出	jiāo chū	to hand over
亮出

Related Words

令(lìng)· to order

→

发生(fā shēng)· to happen

→

产生(chǎn shēng)· to arise

→

出没(chū mò)· to come and go

→

Grammar Notes

Directional 来/去HSK 2

Verb + Direction Verb + 来/去

Compound Directional ComplementsHSK 3

Verb + Direction (上/下/进/出/回/过/起) + 来/去

As Soon As (一...就)HSK 3

Subject + 一 + Verb₁，(Subject) + 就 + Verb₂

Complex Complement ChainsHSK 4

Verb + Resultative/State Complement + Directional Complement

Let Alone (别说...就是)HSK 4

别说 + Extreme Case + 了, 就是/连 + Lesser Case + 都/也 + Predicate

Appears in these articles

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 2
HSK 2.0: HSK 2
HSK Lord study list: HSK 1 list

出: HSK 2 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 2 exam

Studying for HSK 2? Keep 出 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 2 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.