Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
咒(呪)zhòu(zhou4)
The character 咒 (zhòu) refers to the act of cursing or casting a spell, often associated with incantations used in magical or religious practices. It can imply a sense of invoking supernatural forces to bring about harm or misfortune to someone. Commonly used in literature and folklore, this term can evoke feelings of fear or reverence.
Strokes8Radical口Frequency#4918DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, curses and incantations play significant roles in folklore and mythology, often reflecting the belief in supernatural forces and the spiritual world. The use of 咒 can often be found in historical texts or practices associated with Taoism and folk religion.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wizard (the character's form has elements of magic) waving a wand and shouting 'zhòu' to cast a spell of misfortune. The '口' radical suggests speaking, while the '呪' component connects to incantations, making it easier to remember that it relates to spoken curses.
Meanings of 咒
zhòu(zhou4)
1to curse; to damn; incantation
2magic spell
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 咒
咒Simplified
呪Traditional
8Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 咒
Podcast: 咒
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 咒
Quick Contrast
咒 (curse) vs 诅 (curse, more formal) — use 咒 for a more colloquial or narrative context.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a wizard (the character's form has elements of magic) waving a wand and shouting 'zhòu' to cast a spell of misfortune. The '口' radical suggests speaking, while the '呪' component connects to incantations, making it easier to remember that it relates to spoken curses.
Usage Notes
Be aware that 咒 is often used in a more formal or literary context and may not be common in daily conversation. A common mistake is using it interchangeably with other terms for 'curse' without recognizing the specific magical connotation it carries. Note that the pronunciation is important; misplacing the tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
Although not part of the official HSK levels, this character can connect with other HSK vocabulary related to magic or folklore, such as '魔法' (mófǎ) for magic. Focus on understanding the context in which 咒 is used, particularly in stories or discussions about traditional Chinese beliefs.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, curses and incantations play significant roles in folklore and mythology, often reflecting the belief in supernatural forces and the spiritual world. The use of 咒 can often be found in historical texts or practices associated with Taoism and folk religion.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 咒 with other curse-related terms and may incorrectly use it in casual conversation. For example, using 咒 to casually express frustration instead of a more appropriate term like '骂' (mà) for 'to scold' could lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 咒
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 咒 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 咒 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 咒
咒 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 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 5
Complete the Sentence
夏尔马先生点上香，念起梵文____语。
Mr Sharma lit incense and chanted Sanskrit mantras.
This was surely a magic formula for Old Fan as his head ached each time he heard it.
3
他咒骂那个把汤溅在他身上的男侍者.
tā zhòu mà nà gè bǎ tāng jiàn zài tā shēn shàng de nán shì zhě.
He cursed the waiter who had spilled soup on him.
4
他受到伏都教的诅咒.
tā shòu dào fú dū jiào de zǔ zhòu.
He's been the object of a voodoo curse.
5
将他们施与我的诅咒像倾倒蜂蜜一样泼走!
jiāng tā mén shī yǔ wǒ de zǔ zhòu xiàng qīng dǎo fēng mì yī yàng pō zǒu!
The spell that they worked, may it pour away like honey.
6
他们倒换着双脚,眨着眼睛,嘀咕着, 有时咒骂, 有时议论.
tā mén dǎo huàn zháo shuāng jiǎo, , zhǎ zháo yǎn, jīng , dí, gū zháo , yǒu, shí zhòu mà ,.
They shifted and blinked and muttered, now a curse, now a comment.
Cultural Notes for 咒
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, curses and incantations play significant roles in folklore and mythology, often reflecting the belief in supernatural forces and the spiritual world. The use of 咒 can often be found in historical texts or practices associated with Taoism and folk religion.
Word Family of 咒
Words Containing This Character10
诅咒to curse詛咒
咒zhòucurse
咒语spell咒語
咒骂to damn咒罵
符咒charm
紧箍咒a spell or incantation for controlling sb緊箍咒
赌咒to swear to God賭咒
赌咒发誓to vow賭咒發誓
念咒to chant a magic spell
咒诅to curse咒詛
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 诅咒 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 咒
While both mean 'curse', 诅咒 (zǔzhòu) is more commonly used in everyday language, whereas 咒 (zhòu) has a more formal or mystical connotation.
Yes, 咒 can be used metaphorically to describe strong negative feelings toward someone or something, similar to 'damning' in English.
No, it can be used in both spoken and written contexts, but it's more frequently found in literature, folk tales, and discussions about magic.
