出

chū

variant of 出[chu1] (classifier for plays or chapters of classical novels)

sprout (屮) + hollow (凵) = coming out

凵 is an open pit or hollow, and 屮 is a sprouting plant pushing upward through it — the image is emergence itself. Used for play acts because each act 'brings something out' onto the stage.

屮+凵→出
凵An open containerSemantic
屮A sprouting plantSemantic

这部戏一共有三出,每出都很好看。

zhè bù xì yī gòng yǒu sān chū, měi chū dōu hěn hǎo kàn.

This opera has three acts in total, and each act is very enjoyable to watch.

他们今晚要演的那出戏是个老故事。

tā men jīn wǎn yào yǎn de nà chū xì shì gè lǎo gù shi.

The play they are performing tonight is an old story.

Words with 出

出产

chū chǎn

to produce (by natural growth, or by manufacture, mining etc)

出笼

chū lóng

(of food) to be taken out of the steamer

出血

chū xuè

to bleed; bleeding

豁出去

huō chu qu

to throw caution to the wind

做出

zuò chū

to put out

出奔

chū bēn

to flee

输出

shū chū

to output; to deliver (energy, data, signals etc)

出演

chū yǎn

to appear (in a show etc)

出息

chū xī

to yield interest, profit etc

出息

chū xi

future prospects

出入口

chū rù kǒu

gateway

使出

shǐ chū

to use

More characters with 屮

蚩屯