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幬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
幬chóuto cover up; curtainx, 17 strokes, radical 巾
chóu(chou2)chou T2
  1. 1to cover up; curtain
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March 24, 2026

幬chóu(chou2)

The character 幬 (chóu) refers to a covering or curtain, commonly used to describe items that provide shelter or privacy. It often appears in contexts related to architecture or interior design, where curtains or drapes are essential for decor and functionality.

Strokes17Radical巾
Cultural note

Curtains play a significant role in Chinese homes for privacy and aesthetic purposes, often seen in traditional tea houses where they set the mood for intimate gatherings. The use of curtains ties back to the cultural practice of creating harmonious living spaces.

Memory tip

Imagine a large curtain (幬) that covers a stage during a performance. The left side of the character resembles a roof (covering), while the right side resembles the drapes hanging down. Visualize the curtain being drawn back to reveal the show, helping you remember the sound 'chóu' as you unveil something hidden.

Meanings of 幬

chóu(chou2)
1to cover up; curtain
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 幬

幬Simplified
17Strokes
巾Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 幬

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AI study notes for 幬

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 幬 with similar characters that have different meanings, such as 伞 (sǎn), which means umbrella. This character is more formal and specific to curtains, so avoid using it in casual contexts where simpler terms might suffice.

HSK Study Tips

Although 幬 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of compound words related to home and decor. Focus on recognizing its components and how it combines with other characters, such as in 纱幔 (shāmàn, 'sheer curtain').

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 幬 with 伞 (sǎn) because both involve covering. For example, saying '我需要一个幬' (I need a covering) when referring to an umbrella is incorrect; instead, use '伞'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 幬

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Etymology of 幬

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

cloth

Semantic (meaning)巾
+
Phonetic (sound)壽
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

幬 = 巾 + 壽. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 幬

IDS Structure⿰巾壽
幬Full character
=
巾jin1
left
壽shou4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 幬?

How to say to cover up; curtain in Chinese

“to cover up; curtain” in Chinese is幬chóu

The character 幬 (chóu) refers to a covering or curtain, commonly used to describe items that provide shelter or privacy. It often appears in contexts related to architecture or interior design, where curtains or drapes are essential for decor and functionality.

When to use 幬

Be cautious not to confuse 幬 with similar characters that have different meanings, such as 伞 (sǎn), which means umbrella. This character is more formal and specific to curtains, so avoid using it in casual contexts where simpler terms might suffice.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 幬 with 伞 (sǎn) because both involve covering. For example, saying '我需要一个幬' (I need a covering) when referring to an umbrella is incorrect; instead, use '伞'.

Write 幬

幬

Practice writing 幬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 幬

Words containing this character1
帱chóucanopy幬
Exercise 1 of 1

Characters with 幬

What does 帱 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 幬

窗帘 specifically means 'window curtain,' while 幬 is a broader term for any kind of covering or curtain.

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