Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
芻chú(chu2)
The character 芻 (chú) primarily means 'to mow' or 'to cut grass,' often used in the context of harvesting grass for fodder or hay. It can also refer to the grass itself that has been cut and is used as animal feed. This term is commonly associated with agricultural practices and livestock care.
Strokes10Radical艸Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the harvesting of grass for fodder has historical significance, especially in rural areas where livestock farming is prevalent. The character reflects the importance of agriculture in sustaining livelihoods.
Memory Tip
Imagine a farmer (the character's radical 芻 resembles grass) cutting grass with a tool to create piles of hay. The sound 'chú' can be remembered by thinking of the sound of the scythe swooshing through the grass.
Meanings of 芻
chú(chu2)
1to mow, to cut grass; hay, fodder
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 芻
芻Simplified
10Strokes
艸Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 芻
Podcast: 芻
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 芻
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a farmer (the character's radical 芻 resembles grass) cutting grass with a tool to create piles of hay. The sound 'chú' can be remembered by thinking of the sound of the scythe swooshing through the grass.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 芻 with similar characters, such as '草' (cǎo), which also relates to grass but has a broader meaning. This term is typically used in formal agricultural contexts rather than everyday conversation.
HSK Study Tips
While 芻 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to HSK Level 2 and 3 topics related to nature and farming. Focus on the combination of radicals in agricultural terms to enhance your vocabulary in a specific context.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the harvesting of grass for fodder has historical significance, especially in rural areas where livestock farming is prevalent. The character reflects the importance of agriculture in sustaining livelihoods.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 芻 with 草 because both relate to grass. For example, saying '我喜欢芻' (Wǒ xǐhuān chú) intending to mean 'I like grass' is incorrect; it should be '我喜欢草' (Wǒ xǐhuān cǎo).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 芻
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 芻 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 芻 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 芻
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, the harvesting of grass for fodder has historical significance, especially in rural areas where livestock farming is prevalent. The character reflects the importance of agriculture in sustaining livelihoods.
Word Family of 芻
Words Containing This Character3
反刍to ruminate反芻
刍chúhay芻
刍议my humble opinion芻議
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 反刍 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 芻
You can say '我在田里割芻' (Wǒ zài tián lǐ gē chú), meaning 'I am mowing grass in the field.'
While 芻 specifically refers to cut grass or fodder, 草 is a general term for grass or herbs.
Yes, but it's more common in literature or agricultural contexts than in everyday conversation.
