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殂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
殂cúdead; to dieg, 9 strokes, radical 歹, rank #98400, Very Hard
cú(cu2)cu T2
  1. 1dead; to die
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March 24, 2026

殂cú(cu2)

The character 殂 (cú) refers to the act of dying or being dead. It is often used in literary or formal contexts to convey the concept of death, and it can indicate a sense of finality or the end of life. This character is less common in everyday conversation but can be found in written forms, especially in historical or philosophical texts.

Strokes9Radical歹Frequency#98400DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, discussions of death are often approached with reverence and care. The word 殂 reflects the serious nature of death and is sometimes used in historical texts to discuss the lives of notable figures who have passed away.

Memory tip

Imagine a solemn and quiet scene in a graveyard where a ghost, represented by the character 殂, is whispering its final words. The top part of the character resembles a person (亻) and the bottom part resembles a tombstone (尸), which helps you remember that this character relates to death (cú) and dying.

Meanings of 殂

cú(cu2)
1dead; to die
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 殂

殂Simplified
9Strokes
歹Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 殂

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AI study notes for 殂

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 殂 with more commonly used characters for death, like 死 (sǐ), which is more informal. 殂 is usually found in formal texts, so it might not be suitable for everyday conversations. Additionally, when using this character, ensure the context is appropriate as it carries a heavy connotation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 殂 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to other HSK level words related to life and death. Students should focus on understanding its usage in literary contexts and recognize it alongside related terms like 死 (sǐ) and 去世 (qùshì) for a broader understanding of how death is expressed in Mandarin.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 殂 in casual conversations, thinking it is synonymous with 死. For example, saying '他殂了' (tā cú le) in an informal context would be inappropriate; instead, use '他死了' (tā sǐ le).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 殂

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Etymology of 殂

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

death

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

Origin

殂 = 歹 + 且. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 殂

IDS Structure⿰歹且
殂Full character
=
歹dai3
left
且qie3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 殂?

How to say dead; to die in Chinese

“dead; to die” in Chinese is殂cú

The character 殂 (cú) refers to the act of dying or being dead. It is often used in literary or formal contexts to convey the concept of death, and it can indicate a sense of finality or the end of life. This character is less common in everyday conversation but can be found in written forms, especially in historical or philosophical texts.

When to use 殂

Be cautious not to confuse 殂 with more commonly used characters for death, like 死 (sǐ), which is more informal. 殂 is usually found in formal texts, so it might not be suitable for everyday conversations. Additionally, when using this character, ensure the context is appropriate as it carries a heavy connotation.

What learners get wrong

Learners might mistakenly use 殂 in casual conversations, thinking it is synonymous with 死. For example, saying '他殂了' (tā cú le) in an informal context would be inappropriate; instead, use '他死了' (tā sǐ le).

Write 殂

殂

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

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Word Family of 殂

Words containing this character1
殂cúto die

Frequently asked questions about 殂

No, 殂 is more formal and literary, so it's not commonly used in casual dialogue.

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