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炷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
炷zhùcandle wick; incenseq, 9 strokes, radical 火, rank #50611, Very Hard
炷zhùwick of an oil lampunknown, 9 strokes, radical 火, rank #50611, Very Hard
炷zhùto burn (incense etc)unknown, 9 strokes, radical 火, rank #50611, Very Hard
炷zhùmeasure word for lit incense sticksunknown, 9 strokes, radical 火, rank #50611, Very Hard
zhù(zhu4)zhu T4
  1. 1candle wick; incense
  2. 2wick of an oil lamp
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March 24, 2026

炷zhù(zhu4)

The character 炷 (zhù) refers to a wick or the burning part of a candle or incense. It is commonly used in contexts related to lighting and burning, particularly regarding incense in rituals or ceremonies. The term can also serve as a measure word for sticks of incense.

Strokes9Radical火Frequency#50611DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, incense plays a significant role in ceremonies and spiritual practices, often used to honor ancestors or deities. The character 炷 encapsulates this tradition of burning incense as a means of communication with the spiritual world.

Memory tip

Imagine a cozy room filled with the soft glow of candles. The character 炷 (zhù) has the radical 火 (fire), symbolizing burning, and its pronunciation 'zhù' can be remembered by thinking of a 'zooming wick' that lights up the room.

Meanings of 炷

zhù(zhu4)
1candle wick; incense
2wick of an oil lamp
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 炷

炷Simplified
9Strokes
火Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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AI study notes for 炷

Usage Notes

While using 炷, be careful not to confuse it with similar characters related to fire. It is more formal and specific than casual terms for light sources. Common collocations include '点燃炷' (light a wick) and '香炷' (incense stick).

HSK Study Tips

Although 炷 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding it enhances your knowledge of characters related to fire and light, which are common in daily life. Focus on associating it with other related words like 灯 (light) and 香 (fragrance).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 炷 with the more general 火 (fire) or 灯 (light), using it incorrectly in casual contexts. For example, saying '我点了一个炷' (I lit a wick) instead of '我点了一个蜡烛' (I lit a candle) is a common error.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 炷

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Etymology of 炷

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 火 represents the meaning and 主 represents the sound. Originally written as 主, a pictograph of a torch.

Memory hint

A lit 火 candle 主; 主 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 炷?

Decomposition of 炷

IDS Structure⿰火主
炷Full character
=
火Huo3
left
主zhu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 炷?

How to say candle wick; incense in Chinese

“candle wick; incense” in Chinese is炷zhù

The character 炷 (zhù) refers to a wick or the burning part of a candle or incense. It is commonly used in contexts related to lighting and burning, particularly regarding incense in rituals or ceremonies. The term can also serve as a measure word for sticks of incense.

When to use 炷

While using 炷, be careful not to confuse it with similar characters related to fire. It is more formal and specific than casual terms for light sources. Common collocations include '点燃炷' (light a wick) and '香炷' (incense stick).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 炷 with the more general 火 (fire) or 灯 (light), using it incorrectly in casual contexts. For example, saying '我点了一个炷' (I lit a wick) instead of '我点了一个蜡烛' (I lit a candle) is a common error.

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炷

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

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Word Family of 炷

Words containing this character1
炷zhùwick of an oil lamp

Frequently asked questions about 炷

炷 specifically refers to wicks or burning materials like incense, while characters like 火 (fire) are more general.

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