收 (shōu) — to receive / collect

收 (shōu)

收 means to receive, collect, or put away. It covers receiving mail or payment, collecting items, and tidying things up. It is the basic verb for bringing things in toward yourself or your possession. Note that 收到 (shōu dào) specifically means to have received something as a completed result, while bare 收 describes the ongoing action. The compound 收拾 (shōushi) means to tidy up or pack, which is one of the most frequently used household words.

Meanings

1. [verb] To receive; to accept (mail, money, items).
2. [verb] To collect; to gather.
3. [verb] To put away; to tidy up.

Example Sentences

我收到了你的信。 Wǒ shōu dào le nǐ de xìn. I received your letter.

请帮我收一下桌子上的东西。 Qǐng bāng wǒ shōu yīxià zhuōzi shàng de dōngxi. Please help me tidy up the things on the table.

这家店不收现金。 Zhè jiā diàn bù shōu xiànjīn. This shop does not accept cash.

农民们在秋天收粮食。 Nóngmínmen zài qiūtiān shōu liángshi. Farmers harvest grain in autumn.

Collocations

Memory Hook

收 has a component suggesting a hand pulling something in. Imagine pulling all your scattered belongings toward you and tucking them safely away.