Meanings of 碌
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About 碌
Podcast: 碌
Podcast: 碌
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AI Study Notes for 碌
Be careful not to confuse 碌 with similar-sounding characters; it has a specific meaning of laboriousness. It is generally used in informal contexts, especially when discussing work. Common collocations include 碌碡 (liù zhou), referring to a type of stone roller used in agriculture.
Although 碌 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to other words related to work and effort at a similar level. Students should focus on its usage in idiomatic expressions and compound words like 碌碡.
Learners often confuse 碌 with other similar characters, leading to incorrect meanings. For example, using 碌 to mean 'smooth' instead of 'laborious' is a common mistake; it's important to remember its association with roughness and effort.
Pronunciation of 碌
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Etymology of 碌
Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 录 represents the sound. Simplified form of 磟.
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Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 碌
Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 录 represents the sound. Simplified form of 磟.
- 1The meaning half石 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half录 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayrock
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 碌? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 碌
Identify the Components
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How to say laborious in Chinese
“laborious” in Chinese is碌
The character 碌 (liù) primarily refers to something that is laborious or mediocre. It can also denote a small stone and is associated with recording or writing things down, as well as hiring or employing someone. This character is often used in contexts related to work and effort.
When to use 碌
Be careful not to confuse 碌 with similar-sounding characters; it has a specific meaning of laboriousness. It is generally used in informal contexts, especially when discussing work. Common collocations include 碌碡 (liù zhou), referring to a type of stone roller used in agriculture.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 碌 with other similar characters, leading to incorrect meanings. For example, using 碌 to mean 'smooth' instead of 'laborious' is a common mistake; it's important to remember its association with roughness and effort.
Write 碌
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Practice writing 碌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 碌
碌 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 8 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.
Complete the Sentence
突然，我骨____碌地滚下坡，完全晕头转向了。
Suddenly I was cartwheeling down the slope, all orientation gone.
Example Sentences for 碌 (10)
Word Family of 碌
Compound Meaning
What does 忙碌 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 碌
It means laborious or mediocre and can also refer to small stones.
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