Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
帚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
帚zhǒubroom, broomstickng, 8 strokes, radical 巾, rank #85748, Very Hard
zhǒu(zhou3)zhou T3
  1. 1broom, broomstick
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

帚zhǒu(zhou3)

The character 帚 (zhǒu) refers to a broom or broomstick, commonly used for sweeping floors and cleaning spaces. It is often associated with household chores and cleanliness, and can also be used metaphorically in expressions related to tidiness or getting rid of things.

Strokes8Radical巾Frequency#85748DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, cleanliness is highly valued, and using a broom (especially during Lunar New Year) is associated with sweeping away bad luck to welcome good fortune.

Memory tip

Imagine a broom sweeping away dirt, where the character 帚 looks like a broomstick with bristles. The left radical represents a tool, while the right part suggests action, helping you remember that 帚 (zhǒu) means broom.

Meanings of 帚

zhǒu(zhou3)
1broom, broomstick
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 帚 means.

About 帚

帚Simplified
8Strokes
巾Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 帚

JasonAmy

Podcast: 帚

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 帚

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 帚 with other cleaning tools, such as 扫把 (sàobǎ), which means 'sweeper.' 帚 is more formal and typically used in written contexts. Remember that the tone is important; mispronouncing it could lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 帚 is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with other household items like 扫 (sǎo - to sweep) and 清洁 (qīngjié - to clean). Focus on using it in sentences about cleaning to reinforce its meaning.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 帚 with 扫把 (sàobǎ), leading to incorrect usage in context. Always remember that 帚 is more formal and means 'broom' specifically, while 扫把 refers to a sweeper or broomstick used informally.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 帚

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 帚 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 帚 to you

Let me explain 帚 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 帚 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How well do you know 帚?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 帚 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 帚

Formation typePictographic 象形
六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Explanation

Pictograph of a hand sweeping with a broom.

Memory hint

A hand 巾 holding a broom with the head 彐 held up

Learn more about Pictograph (象形字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 帚?

Decomposition of 帚

IDS Structure⿱彐⿱冖巾
帚Full character
=
彐ji4
top
冖mi4
top
巾jin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 帚?

How to say broom, broomstick in Chinese

“broom, broomstick” in Chinese is帚zhǒu

The character 帚 (zhǒu) refers to a broom or broomstick, commonly used for sweeping floors and cleaning spaces. It is often associated with household chores and cleanliness, and can also be used metaphorically in expressions related to tidiness or getting rid of things.

When to use 帚

Learners often confuse 帚 with other cleaning tools, such as 扫把 (sàobǎ), which means 'sweeper.' 帚 is more formal and typically used in written contexts. Remember that the tone is important; mispronouncing it could lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 帚 with 扫把 (sàobǎ), leading to incorrect usage in context. Always remember that 帚 is more formal and means 'broom' specifically, while 扫把 refers to a sweeper or broomstick used informally.

Write 帚

帚

Practice writing 帚 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 帚

帚 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

拿扫____把那些玻璃清扫干净好吗?

Get a broom and sweep up that glass will you?

Example sentences for 帚 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
拿扫帚把那些玻璃清扫干净好吗?

ná sàozhou bǎ nàxiē bōli qīngsǎo gānjìng hǎoma?

Get a broom and sweep up that glass will you?

Ask Jason

Have a question about 帚?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Word Family of 帚

Words containing this character6
扫帚broom掃帚
帚zhǒubroom
笤帚whisk broom
扫帚星comet掃帚星
敝帚自珍a sentimental attachment
炊帚pot-scrubbing brush, made from bamboo strips
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 帚

What does 扫帚 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 帚

You can say '我用帚扫地' (Wǒ yòng zhǒu sǎo dì) meaning 'I use a broom to sweep the floor.'

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 帚?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab