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箍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
箍gūhoop; to surround, to bindv, 14 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #13464, Hard
箍gūto bind with hoopsunknown, 14 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #13464, Hard
gū(gu1) T1
  1. 1hoop; to surround, to bind
  2. 2to bind with hoops
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March 24, 2026
箍gū(gu1)

The character 箍 (gū) refers to a hoop or a ring, particularly one that surrounds or binds something. It is commonly used in contexts such as traditional crafts where hoops are used to hold together materials, and it can also metaphorically imply surrounding or restricting something.

Strokes14Radical⺮Frequency#13464DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese craftsmanship, hoops are essential for making various items like barrels or baskets, reflecting the importance of practical skills in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant 'guy' (gū) wrapped in a hula hoop. The shape of the hoop represents the character's meaning of binding, and the 'guy' helps you remember the pronunciation. The two horizontal lines at the top symbolize the top and bottom of the hoop, while the vertical lines represent the binding nature of the character.

Meanings of 箍

gū(gu1)
1hoop; to surround, to bind
2to bind with hoops
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 箍

箍Simplified
14Strokes
⺮Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 箍

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Podcast: 箍

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AI Study Notes for 箍

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant 'guy' (gū) wrapped in a hula hoop. The shape of the hoop represents the character's meaning of binding, and the 'guy' helps you remember the pronunciation. The two horizontal lines at the top symbolize the top and bottom of the hoop, while the vertical lines represent the binding nature of the character.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 箍 (gū) with similar-sounding words. It is typically used in more technical or craft-related contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation unless the situation specifically calls for it. It can also appear in compound words, such as 箍桶 (gū tǒng), meaning 'hoop barrel.'

HSK Study Tips

While 箍 is not currently included in the HSK vocabulary, it connects to other HSK words related to objects and binding, such as 绑 (bǎng, to tie) and 圈 (quān, circle). Focus on the character's components and how they relate to the idea of enclosing or binding.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese craftsmanship, hoops are essential for making various items like barrels or baskets, reflecting the importance of practical skills in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 箍 (gū) with the character 轱 (gū), which means 'wheel.' To avoid confusion, remember that 箍 is specifically about binding or surrounding, while 轱 relates to circular objects.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 箍

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Etymology of 箍

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Bamboo ⺮ bindings 㧜; 㧜 also provides the pronunciation

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 箍?

Decomposition of 箍

IDS Structure⿱⺮㧜
箍Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
㧜lie4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 箍?

Write 箍

箍

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

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Grammar Patterns of 箍

箍 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 4

Complete the Sentence

对老范来说,这就是紧____咒,每回一听说起保管头痛.

This was surely a magic formula for Old Fan as his head ached each time he heard it.

Example Sentences for 箍 (4)

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1
对老范来说,这就是紧箍咒,每回一听说起保管头痛.

duì lǎo fàn lái shuō, , zhè jiù shì jǐn gū, zhòu , měi huí yī tīng shuō qǐ bǎo guǎn.

This was surely a magic formula for Old Fan as his head ached each time he heard it.
2
他突然笑了出来，露出了刚箍过的牙。

tā tū rán xiào le chū lái， ， lòu chū le gāng gū guò de。

He suddenly smiled, revealing teeth that had recently been capped.
3
5英尺的主动轮除轮箍外,几乎与普通机车一样.

5 5 yīng chǐ de zhǔ dòng lún chú lún gū, wài , jī hū yǔ pǔ tōng jī chē.

The 5 - ft driving wheels looked just like those of the ordinary locomotive except for the tyres.
4
他在夹克衫的左袖上戴了一条黑箍儿。

tā zài jiā kè shān de zuǒ xiù shàng dài le yī tiáo hēi gū ér。

He wore a black band on the left sleeve of his jacket.

Cultural Notes for 箍

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese craftsmanship, hoops are essential for making various items like barrels or baskets, reflecting the importance of practical skills in Chinese culture.

Word Family of 箍

Words Containing This Character8
箍gūhoop
紧箍咒a spell or incantation for controlling sb緊箍咒
金箍棒golden cudgel, weapon wielded by Sun Wukong in the novel Journey to the West 西遊記|西游记[Xī​yóu​Jì]
发箍headband髮箍
铁箍iron hoop鐵箍
轮箍tire輪箍
袖箍armband
箍子finger ring (dialect)
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 箍 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 箍

Besides referring to a hoop, 箍 can also mean to bind or surround, especially in a physical sense.