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潞 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
潞lùsurname Luunknown, 16 strokes, radical 氵, rank #59904, Very Hard
潞lùa river in northern Chinanz, 16 strokes, radical 氵, rank #59904, Very Hard
潞lùname of a riverunknown, 16 strokes, radical 氵, rank #59904, Very Hard
lù(Lu4) T4
  1. 1surname Lu
  2. 2a river in northern China
Also a Chinese surname, Lu — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

潞lù(Lu4)

The character 潞 (lù) refers primarily to a river in northern China, known for its historical significance and geographical features. It can also serve as a surname, particularly among individuals from the region associated with the river. This character is often used in geographical contexts or when discussing family lineage related to the surname.

Strokes16Radical氵Frequency#59904DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The river 潞 has historical significance in China, often referenced in literature and local histories, reflecting the connection between geography and identity in Chinese culture. It may also be associated with local legends or historical figures from the area.

Memory Tip

Imagine a river (水) flowing smoothly, with the character 'Lu' (lù) standing for it. Picture yourself lounging by the riverbank, enjoying the tranquil sounds of water, which helps you remember both the meaning (a river) and the pronunciation (lù). The water radical (氵) symbolizes the river aspect.

Meanings of 潞

lù(Lu4)
1a river in northern China
2name of a river
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 潞

潞Simplified
16Strokes
氵Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 潞

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Podcast: 潞

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 潞

Usage Notes

When using 潞, be careful not to confuse it with other characters that sound similar but have different meanings. It is typically used in formal contexts, such as in geographical discussions or when referring to surnames. Remember to use the correct tone (lù, with the fourth tone) to avoid misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 潞 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, learners at the same level should focus on the radicals and structures of characters related to water (氵), as they often share themes of nature. Understanding this character can enhance comprehension of geographical terms in Chinese.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is confusing 潞 with other similar-sounding characters like 陆 (lù), which means 'land' or 'shore.' Always remember that 潞 specifically refers to a river, so use it in appropriate contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 潞

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Etymology of 潞

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

water

Semantic (meaning)氵
+
Phonetic (sound)路
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 潞

  1. 1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half路 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywater
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 潞? 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 潞?

Decomposition of 潞

IDS Structure⿰氵路
潞Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
路Lu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 潞?

How to say surname Lu in Chinese

“surname Lu” in Chinese is潞lù

The character 潞 (lù) refers primarily to a river in northern China, known for its historical significance and geographical features. It can also serve as a surname, particularly among individuals from the region associated with the river. This character is often used in geographical contexts or when discussing family lineage related to the surname.

When to use 潞

When using 潞, be careful not to confuse it with other characters that sound similar but have different meanings. It is typically used in formal contexts, such as in geographical discussions or when referring to surnames. Remember to use the correct tone (lù, with the fourth tone) to avoid misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is confusing 潞 with other similar-sounding characters like 陆 (lù), which means 'land' or 'shore.' Always remember that 潞 specifically refers to a river, so use it in appropriate contexts.

Write 潞

潞

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 潞

Words Containing This Character5
潞lùsurname Lu
潞西Luxi city in Yunnan, capital of Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture 德宏傣族景頗族自治州|德宏傣族景颇族自治州 in west Yunnan
潞城Lucheng county level city in Changzhi 長治|长治[Cháng​zhì], Shanxi
潞城市Lucheng county level city in Changzhi 長治|长治[Cháng​zhì], Shanxi
潞西市Luxi city in Yunnan, capital of Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture 德宏傣族景頗族自治州|德宏傣族景颇族自治州 in west Yunnan
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 潞 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 潞

It primarily refers to a river in northern China and can also be a surname.

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