unknown, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #30507, Very Hard
咎
jiù
to punish
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #30507, Very Hard
咎
jiù
calamity
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #30507, Very Hard
咎
jiù
misfortune
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #30507, Very Hard
jiù(jiu4) T4
1fault, defect; error, mistake
2to blame
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
咎jiù(jiu4)
The character 咎 (jiù) refers to a fault, defect, or error, often implying blame or punishment for wrongdoing. It can also denote misfortune or calamity, suggesting a connection between one's actions and negative consequences.
Strokes8Radical口Frequency#30507DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 咎 is closely tied to moral responsibility and the idea of karma, where one's actions can lead to misfortune not just for oneself but also for others.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person with a big mouth (represented by the '口' radical) who is always pointing out others' faults (the '九' part can be visualized as a person with nine fingers, making it hard to hide mistakes). This character sounds like 'jiù,' which you can remember as 'you' pointing out faults.
Meanings of 咎
jiù(jiu4)
1fault, defect; error, mistake
2to blame
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 咎
咎Simplified
8Strokes
口Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 咎
Podcast: 咎
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 咎
Quick Contrast
错 (cuò) — use 咎 (jiù) when implying blame or punishment, whereas 错 (cuò) simply indicates something is wrong or incorrect.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person with a big mouth (represented by the '口' radical) who is always pointing out others' faults (the '九' part can be visualized as a person with nine fingers, making it hard to hide mistakes). This character sounds like 'jiù,' which you can remember as 'you' pointing out faults.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; it is pronounced with a falling tone (fourth tone) which can change the meaning if mispronounced. This character is often used in formal contexts, such as legal or literary discussions, when discussing errors or blame.
HSK Study Tips
Although not part of the official HSK vocabulary, 咎 (jiù) can be useful for learners at HSK level 4 and above, where more complex vocabulary is introduced. Students should focus on its usage in expressions related to punishment or blame.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 咎 is closely tied to moral responsibility and the idea of karma, where one's actions can lead to misfortune not just for oneself but also for others.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 咎 with similar-sounding words like 救 (jiù, meaning 'to save'). For example, saying '我咎了他' instead of '我救了他' can change the meaning entirely from 'I blamed him' to 'I saved him.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 咎
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 咎 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 咎 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 咎
咎 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
医院方面将这一混乱归____于一处笔误。
The hospital blamed the mix-up on a clerical error.
kǎi lì nǚ shì sì hū jiāng tā de jīng shén bēng kuì guī jiù yú bǎi dài chàng piàn gōng sī gāo dù jǐn zhāng de gōng zuò rì chéng ān pái。
Ms Carey appeared to blame her breakdown on EMI's punishing work schedule.
5
你怎么敢把失败归咎于我 呢 ?
nǐ zěn mó gǎn bǎ shī bài guī jiù yú wǒ?
How dare you impute the failure to me?
Cultural Notes for 咎
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 咎 is closely tied to moral responsibility and the idea of karma, where one's actions can lead to misfortune not just for oneself but also for others.
Word Family of 咎
Words Containing This Character11
归咎to accuse歸咎
咎jiùfault
咎由自取to have only oneself to blame (idiom)
引咎辞职to admit responsibility and resign引咎辭職
既往不咎There is no point in crying over spilt milk.
难辞其咎cannot escape censure (idiom)難辭其咎
引咎to take the blame
动辄得咎faulted at every turn (idiom); can't get anything right動輒得咎
不咎既往overlook sb's past mistakes
自取其咎to have only oneself to blame (idiom)
咎有应得to deserve what one gets (punishment, mishap etc) (idiom)咎有應得
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 归咎 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 咎
It can be used in sentences like '他受到惩罚是因为他的咎.' (He was punished because of his fault.)
Yes, synonyms include 过错 (guòcuò) and 错误 (cuòwù), both meaning 'mistake' or 'error.'
It's more common in formal writing or discussions rather than casual spoken language.
