<p>Considering 受 and 收 as the translation of the English verb "to receive" is confusing, as it really depends on how they are used (a lot of expressions use those two words). I think the difference is easier to see with examples.</p>

<p><strong>受 seems to be used for immaterial things</strong> (such as feelings, influence, etc.) Its passive connotation really depends on the context or other words in the sentence/expression.</p>

<p>ex: </p>

<ul>
<li>他很受欢迎。 - He is very popular.</li>
<li>他受到你的影响。- He is influenced by you. (which can be good or bad).</li>
</ul>

<p>Even when the character 受 is used in words, it is for abstract things:
感受 (a feeling)</p>

<p><strong>收 seems to be used for material things</strong> (a letter, a document, a SMS).
ex:</p>

<ul>
<li>我收到你的短信。 - I received your SMS.</li>
<li>别忘记收垃圾。- Don't forget to collect the trash.</li>
</ul>

<p>Same things here, when 收 is used in words, it describes material things:
收音机 - Radio (set). Literally <em>the device receiving sounds</em>.</p>

<p>I hope this answer your question.
I wish you pleasure and success in your studies!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-27T02:42:03.190Z
2016-03-27T02:42:03.190Z
TimAstier
<p>受 is usually a passive word, as in "I RECEIVED the mail." The original actor is the giving side.</p>

<p>收 is usually an active word, as in "I CHECKED the mail, and got it". The original actor is the receiving side.      </p>



CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-30T08:18:11.760Z
2016-02-05T05:06:10.890Z
2016-02-05T05:06:10.890Z
xfx
<p>They both can mean "to receive". It seems as if 受 has a more negative connotation than 收 but I'm 100% sure about the exact usage differences. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-24T19:45:14.890Z
asked before see Differentiating between 收 and 受
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-24T21:01:03.973Z
受 has the distinct meaning of 'to suffer/to stand (something negative)' and 收 is 'to harvest/collect/accept/etc.'. You should study some example sentences, there is no 1-to-1 correspondence with any English verbs. Look at http://www.iciba.com/%E5%8F%97 and http://www.iciba.com/%E6%94%B6
imrek
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-26T18:51:22.210Z
Here's post about 收 and 受: http://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/10763/differentiating-between-%E6%94%B6-and-%E5%8F%97
Alex
<synonyms>
What is the difference between 受 and 收?
# What is the difference between 受 and 收?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-24)

They both can mean "to receive". It seems as if 受 has a more negative connotation than 收 but I'm 100% sure about the exact usage differences.

**Tags:** synonyms

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: asked before see Differentiating between 收 and 受  
> **username_2**: 受 has the distinct meaning of 'to suffer/to stand (something negative)' and 收 is 'to harvest/collect/accept/etc.'. You should study some example sentences, there is no 1-to-1 correspondence with any English verbs. Look at http://www.iciba.com/%E5%8F%97 and http://www.iciba.com/%E6%94%B6  
> **username_3**: Here's post about 收 and 受: http://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/10763/differentiating-between-%E6%94%B6-and-%E5%8F%97  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-03-27. Score: 1

Considering 受 and 收 as the translation of the English verb "to receive" is confusing, as it really depends on how they are used (a lot of expressions use those two words). I think the difference is easier to see with examples.

**受 seems to be used for immaterial things** (such as feelings, influence, etc.) Its passive connotation really depends on the context or other words in the sentence/expression.

ex:

* 他很受欢迎。 - He is very popular.
* 他受到你的影响。- He is influenced by you. (which can be good or bad).

Even when the character 受 is used in words, it is for abstract things:
感受 (a feeling)

**收 seems to be used for material things** (a letter, a document, a SMS).
ex:

* 我收到你的短信。 - I received your SMS.
* 别忘记收垃圾。- Don't forget to collect the trash.

Same things here, when 收 is used in words, it describes material things:
收音机 - Radio (set). Literally *the device receiving sounds*.

I hope this answer your question.
I wish you pleasure and success in your studies!


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### Answer by username_5 on 2016-01-30. Score: -1

受 is usually a passive word, as in "I RECEIVED the mail." The original actor is the giving side.

收 is usually an active word, as in "I CHECKED the mail, and got it". The original actor is the receiving side.


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