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    Chinese Grammar

    Using 收 (shōu) to express receiving or collecting

    Actions & Events

    Structure

    收 + Object

    Explanation

    收 (shōu) means "to receive," "to collect," or "to gather" and is used as a verb. It describes the action of taking in or gathering items, money, or information, and appears in many common compounds like 收入 (income).

    Examples

    • 我今天收到了一封朋友寄来的信。

      Wǒ jīntiān shōudào le yī fēng péngyǒu jì lái de xìn.

      I received a letter from a friend today.

    • 请把桌上的文件收好,别弄丢了。

      Qǐng bǎ zhuō shàng de wénjiàn shōu hǎo, bié nòng diū le.

      Please put away the documents on the table so they don't get lost.

    • 快递员每天要收很多包裹。

      Kuàidì yuán měitiān yào shōu hěn duō bāoguǒ.

      The courier has to pick up many packages every day.

    Using 收 (shōu) to express receiving or collecting | Chinese Grammar