HSK 7, a, 13 strokes, radical 禾, rank #26398, Very Hard
稠
chóu
crowded
HSK 7, a, 13 strokes, radical 禾, rank #26398, Very Hard
稠
chóu
thick
HSK 7, a, 13 strokes, radical 禾, rank #26398, Very Hard
稠
chóu
many
HSK 7, a, 13 strokes, radical 禾, rank #26398, Very Hard
稠
chóu
crowded, dense; viscous, thick
HSK 7, a, 13 strokes, radical 禾, rank #26398, Very Hard
chóu(chou2) T2
1dense
2crowded
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March 24, 2026
稠chóu(chou2)
The character 稠 (chóu) refers to a state of density or thickness, often used to describe substances that are not easily separable, like mud or syrup. It can also denote a crowd of people or a large quantity of items in a given space, highlighting a sense of being packed together closely.
Strokes13Radical禾Frequency#26398DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, the concept of thickness is important, particularly in sauces and soups, where a thicker consistency is often desired for flavor and texture. 稠 can be used to describe dishes that are rich and satisfying.
Memory Tip
Imagine a thick soup that's so dense you can barely see through it. The character 稠 has the '禾' (grain) radical, which suggests abundance, and the '周' component, indicating surrounding or crowding—think of grains packed densely together in a bowl.
Meanings of 稠
chóu(chou2)
1dense
2crowded
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 稠
稠Simplified
13Strokes
禾Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#26398Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 稠
Podcast: 稠
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AI Study Notes for 稠
Quick Contrast
稠 (chóu) vs 密 (mì) — use 稠 for thickness or density in a physical sense, while 密 emphasizes closeness or compactness without necessarily implying thickness.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a thick soup that's so dense you can barely see through it. The character 稠 has the '禾' (grain) radical, which suggests abundance, and the '周' component, indicating surrounding or crowding—think of grains packed densely together in a bowl.
Usage Notes
Beware of using 稠 in contexts where 'thick' or 'dense' could imply negative connotations, such as 'complicated' or 'crowded' situations. It's more common in informal settings but can be used in written contexts when describing substances or populations. For example, saying '人很稠' (the people are dense) is acceptable but should be used carefully.
HSK Study Tips
While 稠 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to other words at the intermediate level, such as 浓 (nóng, thick) or 密 (mì, dense). Focus on its applications in describing both physical and abstract densities.
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, the concept of thickness is important, particularly in sauces and soups, where a thicker consistency is often desired for flavor and texture. 稠 can be used to describe dishes that are rich and satisfying.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 稠 with 浓 (nóng), which means 'thick' in a different context, such as flavor. For example, saying '这个汤很浓' is more appropriate when discussing taste rather than consistency.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 稠
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Grammar Patterns of 稠
稠 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 5 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 4
Complete the Sentence
将苹果和黑莓炖成____浆。
Stew the apple and blackberries to make a thick pulp.
Example Sentences for 稠 (10)
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1
将苹果和黑莓炖成稠浆。
jiāng píng guǒ hé hēi méi dùn chéng chóu jiāng。
Stew the apple and blackberries to make a thick pulp.
During collapse, the dark cloud " fragments " into a series of dense clumps.
10
用稠厚器来分离酸和石膏.
yòng chóu hòu qì lái fēn lí suān hé shí gāo.
Thickeners were introduced for separating the acid and gypsum.
Cultural Notes for 稠
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese cuisine, the concept of thickness is important, particularly in sauces and soups, where a thicker consistency is often desired for flavor and texture. 稠 can be used to describe dishes that are rich and satisfying.
Word Family of 稠
Words Containing This Character3
稠chóudense
稠密chóumìdense
增稠剂thickener增稠劑
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 稠 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 稠
It can describe something that is thick or dense, like a syrup or a crowded place.
You might say '这个汤很稠' (This soup is thick) or '这里的人很多，感觉很稠' (There are many people here, it feels crowded).
No, it can also describe abstract concepts, such as a large number of people or items packed closely together.
