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伫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
伫zhùto wait; to look towards; to turn one's back onzg, 6 strokes, radical 亻
伫zhùto stand for a long timeunknown, 6 strokes, radical 亻
伫zhùto look forward tounknown, 6 strokes, radical 亻
伫zhùto accumulateunknown, 6 strokes, radical 亻
zhù(zhu4)zhu T4
  1. 1to wait; to look towards; to turn one's back on
  2. 2to stand for a long time
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March 24, 2026

伫(佇)zhù(zhu4)

The character 伫 (zhù) primarily means 'to wait' or 'to stand for a long time.' It is often used in literary or poetic contexts to convey a sense of anticipation or longing, as in waiting for someone or something with hope. The nuance can imply a patient, almost melancholic waiting, rather than a mere act of standing.

Strokes6Radical亻
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese poetry, waiting is often associated with longing and unrequited love, making 伫 a powerful word in expressing deep emotions. This theme resonates with the concept of patience and hope that is prevalent in many aspects of Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Imagine a person standing still like a statue, waiting for a long time, with their gaze fixed ahead. The character 伫 combines the radical for 'person' (亻) and a component suggesting 'gathering' or 'accumulating,' which can remind you of someone accumulating patience as they wait.

Meanings of 伫

zhù(zhu4)
1to wait; to look towards; to turn one's back on
2to stand for a long time
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 伫

伫Simplified
佇Traditional
6Strokes
亻Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 伫

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AI study notes for 伫

Quick Contrast

伫 (zhù) vs 站 (zhàn) — use 伫 to emphasize a prolonged, often emotional waiting, while 站 simply means to stand without the same nuance of anticipation.

Usage Notes

伫 is more commonly found in literary contexts and may sound overly formal or poetic in casual conversations. A common mistake is using it interchangeably with 等 (děng), which also means 'to wait' but is more general. Be cautious about the tone when pronouncing, as it is a fourth tone (zhù).

HSK Study Tips

Though 伫 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it is beneficial for learners at higher levels to encounter it in literary texts. Students should focus on understanding its usage in context, especially in poetry or prose that evokes emotions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 伫 with 等 (děng), believing they are interchangeable; however, 伫 carries a more nuanced sense of longing. For example, saying '我伫朋友' (Wǒ zhù péngyǒu) to mean 'I wait for a friend' is incorrect; the correct form would be '我等朋友' (Wǒ děng péngyǒu).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 伫

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Etymology of 伫

Decomposition of 伫

IDS Structure⿰亻⿱宀一
伫Full character
=
亻ren2
left
宀gai4
top
一yi1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 伫?

How to say to wait; to look towards; to turn one's back on in Chinese

“to wait; to look towards; to turn one's back on” in Chinese is伫zhù

The character 伫 (zhù) primarily means 'to wait' or 'to stand for a long time.' It is often used in literary or poetic contexts to convey a sense of anticipation or longing, as in waiting for someone or something with hope. The nuance can imply a patient, almost melancholic waiting, rather than a mere act of standing.

When to use 伫

伫 is more commonly found in literary contexts and may sound overly formal or poetic in casual conversations. A common mistake is using it interchangeably with 等 (děng), which also means 'to wait' but is more general. Be cautious about the tone when pronouncing, as it is a fourth tone (zhù).

伫 or something close to it

伫 (zhù) vs 站 (zhàn) — use 伫 to emphasize a prolonged, often emotional waiting, while 站 simply means to stand without the same nuance of anticipation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 伫 with 等 (děng), believing they are interchangeable; however, 伫 carries a more nuanced sense of longing. For example, saying '我伫朋友' (Wǒ zhù péngyǒu) to mean 'I wait for a friend' is incorrect; the correct form would be '我等朋友' (Wǒ děng péngyǒu).

Write 伫

伫

Practice writing 伫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 伫

伫 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

在照片中,她摆出水手____立远望的姿势.

In the photo she stands in the attitude of a sailor looking afar.

Example sentences for 伫 (1)

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1
在照片中,她摆出水手伫立远望的姿势.

zài zhàopiàn zhōng, tā bǎi chū shuǐshǒu zhù lì yuǎn wàng de zīshì.

In the photo she stands in the attitude of a sailor looking afar.

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Word Family of 伫

Words containing this character2
伫立to stand for a long time佇立
伫zhùto wait佇
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 伫

What does 伫立 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 伫

伫 is typically used in literary or poetic contexts, expressing a deep sense of waiting or anticipation.

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