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March 24, 2026
姑gū(gu1)
The character 姑 (gū) primarily refers to a paternal aunt or the sister of one's father. It can also indicate a husband's sister or mother, especially in older contexts, and is used in literary Chinese to mean 'for the time being.' This word is commonly used in family relationships and discussions about one's relatives.
Strokes8Radical女Frequency#16430DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese families, the role of the 姑 (paternal aunt) is significant, often involving her in family gatherings and decision-making. This reflects the strong emphasis on familial hierarchy and respect for elders in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wise old woman (姑) sitting under a tree (木) telling stories about family. The tree resembles the family tree, highlighting her role as a paternal aunt. You can remember the pronunciation 'gū' as the sound of a gentle call for your aunt.
Meanings of 姑
gū(gu1)
1paternal aunt
2husband's sister
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 姑
姑Simplified
8Strokes
女Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#16430Frequency Rank
Podcast: 姑
Podcast: 姑
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AI Study Notes for 姑
Quick Contrast
姑姑 (gūgu, paternal aunt) vs 姨 (yí, maternal aunt) — use 姑 for paternal aunts specifically.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a wise old woman (姑) sitting under a tree (木) telling stories about family. The tree resembles the family tree, highlighting her role as a paternal aunt. You can remember the pronunciation 'gū' as the sound of a gentle call for your aunt.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 姑 with 阿姨 (āyí), which refers to an aunt from the mother's side. This term is more informal and is frequently used in everyday conversations. Be cautious with tone; the 'gū' in 姑 has a high-level tone, which distinguishes it from other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Though not part of the official HSK vocabulary, 姑 is beneficial for students learning family-related terms. It connects to other family vocabulary such as 叔叔 (shūshu, uncle) and 姐姐 (jiějie, older sister), reinforcing the understanding of familial relationships.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese families, the role of the 姑 (paternal aunt) is significant, often involving her in family gatherings and decision-making. This reflects the strong emphasis on familial hierarchy and respect for elders in Chinese culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 姑 to refer to any aunt, including maternal aunts. Remember, 姑 specifically refers to the paternal aunt; for maternal aunts, use 阿姨 (āyí).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 姑
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Grammar Patterns of 姑
姑 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 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.
Anne is a Lancashire lass from Longton, near Preston.
10
他留神听着从身边走过的姑娘们嘴里在闲扯着什么。
tā liú shén tīng zháo cóng shēn biān zǒu guò de gū niáng mén zuǐ lǐ zài xián chě zháo shí mó。
He listened to chattering maids as they passed by.
Cultural Notes for 姑
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese families, the role of the 姑 (paternal aunt) is significant, often involving her in family gatherings and decision-making. This reflects the strong emphasis on familial hierarchy and respect for elders in Chinese culture.
Word Family of 姑
Compounds1
菇gu1mushroom
Words Containing This Character20
姑娘gūnianggirl
姑gūnun
姑姑gūgupaternal aunt
姑妈paternal aunt姑媽
灰姑娘Cinderella
姑且gūqiětentatively
尼姑Buddhist nun
姑息excessively tolerant
村姑village girl
大姑sister-in-law
姑父uncle
姑奶奶great aunt
姑婆grandfather's sister
小姑sister-in-law
姑爷son-in-law (used by wife's family)姑爺
仙姑sorceress
皇姑区Huanggu district of Shenyang city 瀋陽市|沈阳市, Liaoning皇姑區
道姑Daoist nun
姑母father's sister
姑丈husband of paternal aunt
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 菇 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 姑
You can use 姑 (gū) when talking about family gatherings, discussing relatives, or introducing family members. It is appropriate in both casual and formal contexts when referring to your paternal aunt.
姑 (gū) refers specifically to a paternal aunt, while 婶 (shěn) refers to an uncle's wife, or aunt by marriage. Understanding these terms is important for accurately describing family relationships in Chinese.
You can use 姑 (gū) in sentences to refer to your paternal aunt, for example: '我的姑姑很会做饭' (My aunt is very good at cooking). It can also be used in more complex sentences involving family relationships.
姑 (gū) primarily means 'paternal aunt' in Chinese. It can also refer to a husband's sister or mother in a more traditional context. Additionally, it has literary uses, such as meaning 'for the time being'.
It means paternal aunt or can refer to a husband's sister or mother.
You can say '我的姑姑来我家了' (My paternal aunt came to my house).
It is primarily used in formal contexts, especially when discussing family relations.
