What does xu mean?
Xu has two principal uses in English. Historically, it named a small Chinese monetary unit equal to one thousandth of a yuan, so a sum expressed in xu represented a very small fraction of the larger currency unit. Today, however, xu is encountered chiefly as a Romanized Chinese family name, including the name of the philosopher Xunzi, whose name is conventionally written “Xunzi” in English and “Xu” as a family name. The spelling can represent more than one Chinese character and may therefore be associated with different tones depending on the person or family concerned. As a family name, it is properly written with an initial capital letter when a person is being named: Mr. Xu, rather than Mr. xu. The older monetary sense is now chiefly encountered in historical writing, translations, and reference works. Together, its meanings make xu an example of how a term can move from an everyday name for a small unit of money to a lasting and internationally recognizable family name.
A former Chinese monetary unit equal to one thousandth of a yuan.
"The price was five xu."
Historical and uncommon in modern usage.
A Chinese family name, represented in Romanized form as Xu.
"Professor Xu led the research team."
Normally capitalized when used as a family name; the romanization may correspond to multiple Chinese characters and tones.
In the historical monetary sense, xu is invariant and is expressed in the plural in the same form.
"The account was settled in several xu."
A tiny coin once occupied a thousand places in a yuan.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of xu
The monetary term xu is an English rendering of a Chinese unit of currency historically associated with the silver coinage of the Qing dynasty. The family name is a romanization of the Chinese surname commonly written 许 in simplified Chinese and 許 in traditional Chinese, with historical names also appearing in English as Hsu, Hsü, and related forms.
How xu is actually used
The monetary sense is historical. In modern English, “Xu” is encountered chiefly as a Chinese family name; romanization does not by itself indicate which Chinese character or tone the name represents.
Easily confused with xu
“Xu” is a Chinese monetary or family name, whereas “shoe” is an item worn on the foot.