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毂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
毂gūthe hub of a wheelx, 13 strokes, radical 殳
毂gūwheelunknown, 13 strokes, radical 殳
毂gūhub of wheelunknown, 13 strokes, radical 殳
毂gǔthe hub of a wheelx, 13 strokes, radical 殳
毂gǔwheelunknown, 13 strokes, radical 殳
毂gǔhub of wheelunknown, 13 strokes, radical 殳
gū(gu1)
primary
T1
  1. 1the hub of a wheel
  2. 2wheel
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

毂(轂)gū(gu1)

The character 毂 (gū) refers specifically to the hub of a wheel, which is the central part around which the wheel turns. In a broader context, it can also denote the concept of connectivity and centrality within various structures, both physically and metaphorically.

Strokes13Radical殳
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the wheel represents progress and the advancement of technology, especially in ancient times when horse-drawn carts were prevalent.

Memory Tip

Imagine a gigantic wheel with a shiny hub at its center. The sound 'gū' can remind you of the 'gooey' center of a wheel that holds everything together, symbolizing its importance in motion and stability.

Meanings of 毂

gū(gu1)
primary
1the hub of a wheel
2wheel
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 毂

毂Simplified
轂Traditional
13Strokes
殳Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 毂

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Podcast: 毂

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 毂

Usage Notes

Learners may confuse 毂 with similar characters like 轮 (lún), which means wheel. This word is generally used in more technical or formal contexts, such as mechanics or engineering, rather than in casual conversation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 毂 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK Level 2 words like 车 (chē, car) and 轮 (lún, wheel). Students should focus on understanding how mechanical terms are often formed in Chinese, building their technical vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is to confuse 毂 with 轱 (gū), which refers to a type of wheel. Make sure to remember that 毂 specifically denotes the hub rather than the wheel itself.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 毂

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Etymology of 毂

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

wheel

Semantic (meaning)车
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 毂

  1. 1The meaning half车 carries the sense.
  2. 2The giveawaywheel
  3. 3On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 毂? 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 毂?

Decomposition of 毂

IDS Structure⿰⿱士军车
毂Full Character
=
士Shi4
top
军jun1
bottom
车Che1
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 毂?

How to say the hub of a wheel in Chinese

“the hub of a wheel” in Chinese is毂gū

The character 毂 (gū) refers specifically to the hub of a wheel, which is the central part around which the wheel turns. In a broader context, it can also denote the concept of connectivity and centrality within various structures, both physically and metaphorically.

When to use 毂

Learners may confuse 毂 with similar characters like 轮 (lún), which means wheel. This word is generally used in more technical or formal contexts, such as mechanics or engineering, rather than in casual conversation.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is to confuse 毂 with 轱 (gū), which refers to a type of wheel. Make sure to remember that 毂 specifically denotes the hub rather than the wheel itself.

Write 毂

毂

Practice writing 毂 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 毂

毂 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

他已经在擦汽车轮____了。

He was already buffing the car's hubs.

Example Sentences for 毂 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他已经在擦汽车轮毂了。

tā yǐ jīng zài cā qì chē lún gǔ le。

He was already buffing the car's hubs.

Word Family of 毂

Words Containing This Character2
轮毂wheel hub輪轂
毂gūwheel轂
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 轮毂 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 毂

It is pronounced as 'gū' with a high-level tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 毂?

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.