Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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#2955DifficultyMedium
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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 墟
墟Simplified
14Strokes
土Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 墟
Podcast: 墟
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 墟
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.
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
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 墟 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
2The sound half虚 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayearth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 墟? 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 墟?
Decomposition of 墟
IDS Structure⿰土虚
墟Full Character
=
土Tu3
left
虚xu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 墟?
How to say ruins in Chinese
“ruins” in Chinese is墟xū
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.
When to use 墟
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.
What learners get wrong
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).
Write 墟
墟
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 墟 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 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)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
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.
