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矬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
矬cuóshort; a dwarfn, 12 strokes, radical 矢, rank #35463, Very Hard
矬cuódwarfishunknown, 12 strokes, radical 矢, rank #35463, Very Hard
cuó(cuo2)cuo T2
  1. 1short; a dwarf
  2. 2dwarfish
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March 24, 2026

矬cuó(cuo2)

The character 矬 (cuó) refers to someone or something that is short in stature, often used to describe a dwarf or a person of below-average height. It can also be used in a more general sense to describe objects that are short or small. This term is often used in informal contexts and can carry a neutral or slightly derogatory connotation depending on usage.

Strokes12Radical矢Frequency#35463DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, there is a sensitivity around height and body image, similar to many cultures. The term 矬 may evoke discussions about beauty standards, which can differ significantly from Western perspectives where height is often celebrated.

Memory tip

Imagine a short person trying to reach a high shelf, stretching their arms up but still unable to touch it. The character 矬 has a 'short' form, with the radical 钅 (metal) suggesting something small and the 'cuó' sound resembling the action of 'cutting down' something to size.

Meanings of 矬

cuó(cuo2)
1short; a dwarf
2dwarfish
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 矬

矬Simplified
12Strokes
矢Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 矬

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Podcast: 矬

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AI study notes for 矬

Quick Contrast

矮 (ǎi) refers to being short in height but is more commonly used in a neutral context for people and objects, while 矬 (cuó) often implies a more informal or derogatory nuance.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when using 矬, as it can be perceived as disrespectful if used to describe a person directly. It's often better to use the word in a descriptive way rather than as a label. Common collocations include 矬人 (short person) and 矬小 (dwarf-sized).

HSK Study Tips

While 矬 is not officially part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK Level 2-3 words like 短 (short) and 高 (tall). Focus on understanding its usage in conversational contexts, especially when describing people or objects.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 矬 with 短 (duǎn), which means 'short' but is broader in application. For example, saying 矬的裤子 (cuó de kùzi) for 'short pants' is incorrect; instead, use 短裤 (duǎn kù).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 矬

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Etymology of 矬

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

Phonosemantic compound. 矢 represents the meaning and 坐 represents the sound.

Memory hint

arrow

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

Origin

矬 = 矢 + 坐. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 矬

IDS Structure⿰矢坐
矬Full character
=
矢shi3
left
坐Zuo4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 矬?

How to say short; a dwarf in Chinese

“short; a dwarf” in Chinese is矬cuó

The character 矬 (cuó) refers to someone or something that is short in stature, often used to describe a dwarf or a person of below-average height. It can also be used in a more general sense to describe objects that are short or small. This term is often used in informal contexts and can carry a neutral or slightly derogatory connotation depending on usage.

When to use 矬

Be cautious with the tone when using 矬, as it can be perceived as disrespectful if used to describe a person directly. It's often better to use the word in a descriptive way rather than as a label. Common collocations include 矬人 (short person) and 矬小 (dwarf-sized).

矬 or something close to it

矮 (ǎi) refers to being short in height but is more commonly used in a neutral context for people and objects, while 矬 (cuó) often implies a more informal or derogatory nuance.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 矬 with 短 (duǎn), which means 'short' but is broader in application. For example, saying 矬的裤子 (cuó de kùzi) for 'short pants' is incorrect; instead, use 短裤 (duǎn kù).

Write 矬

矬

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

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Word Family of 矬

Words containing this character1
矬cuóshort

Frequently asked questions about 矬

It can be seen as derogatory when referring to people, so it's best to use it carefully.

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