Shen Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Grass (cǎo) Xu Kangxi strokes: 20 Page 1063, Entry 34 Pronounced xu. Book of Odes (Shijing), Lesser Odes of the Kingdom: To strain wine is xu. Commentary: Describes something beautiful in appearance. Also pronounced yu. Xu-yu is a fragrant herb. Also pronounced yu. Shu-xu, see the entry for the character shu. Also pronounced yu. Meaning flourishing or overgrown. Also pronounced xu. A surname. Brief Records on Clans and Lineages (Tongzhi: Shizhulue): Appears in the Garden of Surnames (Xingyuan), originating from the Wu Commandery.