Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
狙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
monkey, ape; to spy, to watch for; to lie in ambushv, 8 strokes, radical 犭, rank #25404, Hard
macaqueunknown, 8 strokes, radical 犭, rank #25404, Hard
(ju1) T1
  1. 1monkey, ape; to spy, to watch for; to lie in ambush
  2. 2macaque
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

(ju1)

The character 狙 (jū) primarily refers to a type of monkey or ape, particularly a macaque. In a broader context, it can also mean to spy, to watch for, or to lie in ambush, often implying a sense of stealth or cunning. This character is commonly used in contexts involving observation or subtlety.

Strokes8RadicalFrequency#25404DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, monkeys are often seen as symbols of cleverness and agility, which ties back to the character's meaning. The macaque, in particular, is associated with specific regions in China and plays a role in local folklore and stories.

Memory Tip

Imagine a clever monkey (the meaning of 狙) hiding in the trees, watching its surroundings with keen eyes (the act of spying). The character has the 'dog' radical (犭) which suggests a keen sense of observation, just like how a dog watches closely. Picture the monkey as a mischievous spy, always ready to pounce!

Meanings of 狙

(ju1)
1monkey, ape; to spy, to watch for; to lie in ambush
2macaque
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 狙

Simplified
8Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 狙

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 狙

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a clever monkey (the meaning of 狙) hiding in the trees, watching its surroundings with keen eyes (the act of spying). The character has the 'dog' radical (犭) which suggests a keen sense of observation, just like how a dog watches closely. Picture the monkey as a mischievous spy, always ready to pounce!

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 狙 (jū) with similar-sounding characters, as it can lead to misunderstandings, especially in informal speech. This character is more common in written language and may not be used frequently in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 狙击 (jūjī), meaning 'to ambush' or 'sniper'.

HSK Study Tips

While 狙 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be an interesting addition for learners at HSK 4 and above, as it relates to themes of action and observation. Students should focus on the pronunciation and usage in specific contexts, especially in literature or formal writing.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, monkeys are often seen as symbols of cleverness and agility, which ties back to the character's meaning. The macaque, in particular, is associated with specific regions in China and plays a role in local folklore and stories.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 狙 (jū) with 猴 (hóu), leading to incorrect usage when referring to monkeys. For instance, saying '我看到了一只狙' (I saw a jū) instead of '我看到了一只猴' (I saw a hóu) would be incorrect if simply referring to a monkey.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 狙

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 狙

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

Phonosemantic compound. 犭 represents the meaning and 且 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

animal

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 狙?

Decomposition of 狙

IDS Structure⿰犭且
Full Character
=
quan3
left
qie3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 狙?

Write 狙

Practice writing 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 狙

狙 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

一颗____击手的子弹打烂了他头顶上方两英寸地方的墙头.

A sniper's bullet tore up a wall two inches above his head.

Example Sentences for 狙 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
一颗狙击手的子弹打烂了他头顶上方两英寸地方的墙头.

yī kē jū jī shǒu de zǐ dàn dǎ làn le tā tóu dǐng shàng fāng liǎng yīng cùn dì fāng de qiáng tóu.

A sniper's bullet tore up a wall two inches above his head.

Cultural Notes for 狙

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese culture, monkeys are often seen as symbols of cleverness and agility, which ties back to the character's meaning. The macaque, in particular, is associated with specific regions in China and plays a role in local folklore and stories.

Word Family of 狙

Words Containing This Character3
狙击手sniper狙擊手
狙击to snipe (shoot from hiding)狙擊
macaque
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 狙击手 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 狙

In this context, 狙 implies a stealthy observation or watching someone closely, similar to how a predator observes its prey.