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March 24, 2026
墟xū(xu1)
The character 墟 (xū) refers to a place that may be in ruins or a village, often used in a literary context. It can also denote a country fair or a type of high mound or hilly countryside. This character encapsulates themes of decay, rural life, and cultural gatherings.
Strokes14Radical土Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, country fairs (associated with 墟) were important social events where communities gathered to trade goods and celebrate, reflecting the agricultural roots of society. These fairs often symbolize the connection between people and the land.
Memory Tip
Imagine a vast, grassy mound (the '墟') where once a bustling village thrived, now in ruins. The radical 土 (tǔ), meaning earth or ground, reminds you that this character is all about land and places, while the sound 'xū' can be visualized as a ghostly echo of the village fair that once was, fading into the hills.
Meanings of 墟
xū(xu1)
1ruins
2(literary) village
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 墟
墟Simplified
14Strokes
土Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 墟
Podcast: 墟
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AI Study Notes for 墟
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a vast, grassy mound (the '墟') where once a bustling village thrived, now in ruins. The radical 土 (tǔ), meaning earth or ground, reminds you that this character is all about land and places, while the sound 'xū' can be visualized as a ghostly echo of the village fair that once was, fading into the hills.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 墟 (xū) with similar characters like 圩 (xū), which refers to a raised area for protection against floods. This character is more literary and less common in everyday speech, so it may sound formal. It’s often used in historical or cultural texts.
HSK Study Tips
Although not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, understanding 墟 can enhance your grasp of literary texts and phrases. Focus on connecting it with concepts of rural life and historical settings, which can help when encountering similar characters in literature.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, country fairs (associated with 墟) were important social events where communities gathered to trade goods and celebrate, reflecting the agricultural roots of society. These fairs often symbolize the connection between people and the land.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 墟 (xū) with 圩 (xū) due to their similar pronunciations and meanings. For example, saying '我去增圩' (wǒ qù zēng xū) when intending to say 'I will go to the village fair' is incorrect; the correct term for 'village' should be 村 (cūn).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 墟
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Grammar Patterns of 墟
墟 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 4 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
他被埋在废____下面达好几个小时。
He was buried under the debris for several hours.
Example Sentences for 墟 (8)
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1
他被埋在废墟下面达好几个小时。
tā bèi mái zài fèi xū xià miàn dá hǎo jī gè xiǎo shí。
He was buried under the debris for several hours.
2
诺曼人建造了这座后来在克伦威尔统治时期变成废墟的城堡。
nuò màn rén jiàn zào le zhè zuò hòu lái zài kè lún wēi ěr tǒng zhì shí qī biàn chéng fèi xū de chéng bǎo。
The Normans built the castle which was reduced to ruins under Cromwell.
Some of the rescue workers and doctors were trapped under the ruins.
Cultural Notes for 墟
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, country fairs (associated with 墟) were important social events where communities gathered to trade goods and celebrate, reflecting the agricultural roots of society. These fairs often symbolize the connection between people and the land.
Word Family of 墟
Words Containing This Character3
废墟fèixūruins廢墟
墟xūruins
殷墟Yinxu, ruins of Yinshang 殷商 city at Anyang 安陽|安阳 in Henan province, a World Heritage site
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 废墟 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 墟
It is primarily used in literary contexts, so you may not encounter it often in everyday conversation.
You might consider words like 村 (cūn) for village or 庙会 (miàohuì) for temple fair, which are more commonly used.
The pinyin for 墟 is 'xū', where the 'x' is pronounced like 'sh' in 'she', but with the tongue positioned closer to the roof of the mouth.
