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
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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
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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.
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.
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
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Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 处 represents the sound.
1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
2The sound half处 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymouth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 咎? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 咎?
Decomposition of 咎
IDS Structure⿱处口
咎Full Character
=
处chu3
top
口kou3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 咎?
How to say fault, defect; error, mistake in Chinese
“fault, defect; error, mistake” in Chinese is咎jiù
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.
When to use 咎
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.
咎 or something close to it
错 (cuò) — use 咎 (jiù) when implying blame or punishment, whereas 错 (cuò) simply indicates something is wrong or incorrect.
What learners get wrong
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.'
Write 咎
咎
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Practice writing 咎 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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.
