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著 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
著
zhù
to show, to prove, to make known
n, 11 strokes, radical 艹, rank #4865, Hard
著
zhù
to write
n, 11 strokes, radical 艹, rank #4865, Hard
著
zhù
book
n, 11 strokes, radical 艹, rank #4865, Hard
著
zhù
outstanding
n, 11 strokes, radical 艹, rank #4865, Hard
著
zhe
to show, to prove, to make known
n, 11 strokes, radical 艹, rank #4865, Hard
著
zhe
to write
n, 11 strokes, radical 艹, rank #4865, Hard
著
zhe
book
n, 11 strokes, radical 艹, rank #4865, Hard
著
zhe
outstanding
n, 11 strokes, radical 艹, rank #4865, Hard
zhe(zhe5)
primary
T5
1to show, to prove, to make known
2to write
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
著zhe(zhe5)
The character 著 (zhe) primarily denotes the action of showing or proving something. It can also refer to written works or books, and is often used in contexts where something is made known or expressed clearly. Additionally, it carries the nuance of being outstanding or remarkable in certain contexts.
Strokes11Radical艹Frequency#4865DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese literature, 著 is commonly seen in the titles of books and works, signifying the importance of authorship and the act of making knowledge public. This reflects the value placed on scholarship and literature in Chinese culture.
Memory tip
Imagine a person (represented by the radical '者') standing in front of a large book (the '著' character) holding it up to show it to others. This imagery connects the idea of 'showing' with the written word, reinforcing both the pronunciation 'zhe' and the meaning of making something known.
Meanings of 著
zhe(zhe5)
primary
1to show, to prove, to make known
2to write
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 著 means.
About 著
著Simplified
11Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4865Frequency Rank
Podcast: 著
Podcast: 著
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AI study notes for 著
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 著 with similar-sounding words or using it inappropriately in formal contexts. It is often used in both formal and informal settings, especially in literature and discussions about works or achievements. Pay attention to the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other words.
HSK Study Tips
While 著 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it connects with vocabulary related to writing and literature found in HSK 4 and 5. Students should focus on its usage in expressing actions and outcomes, as well as its connection to written texts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 著 with the character 知 (zhī), which means 'to know.' For example, saying '我著这个' (Wǒ zhù zhège) instead of '我知道这个' (Wǒ zhīdào zhège) to mean 'I know this' is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 著
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著 = 艹 + 者. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 著
IDS Structure⿱艹者
著Full character
=
艹cao3
top
者zhe3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 著?
How to say to show, to prove, to make known in Chinese
“to show, to prove, to make known” in Chinese is著zhù
The character 著 (zhe) primarily denotes the action of showing or proving something. It can also refer to written works or books, and is often used in contexts where something is made known or expressed clearly. Additionally, it carries the nuance of being outstanding or remarkable in certain contexts.
When to use 著
Common mistakes include confusing 著 with similar-sounding words or using it inappropriately in formal contexts. It is often used in both formal and informal settings, especially in literature and discussions about works or achievements. Pay attention to the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other words.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 著 with the character 知 (zhī), which means 'to know.' For example, saying '我著这个' (Wǒ zhù zhège) instead of '我知道这个' (Wǒ zhīdào zhège) to mean 'I know this' is incorrect.
Write 著
著
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Practice writing 著 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 著
著 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 4 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
索米尔周围的白垩质土壤出产____名的安茹葡萄酒。
The chalky soil around Saumur produces the famous Anjou wines.
Common confusions with 著
著vs着
zhe
Similar pronunciation and shape but different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to show, to prove, to make known”?
or
Example sentences for 著 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
索米尔周围的白垩质土壤出产著名的安茹葡萄酒。
Suǒ mǐ ěr zhōuwéi de bái è zhì tǔrǎng chū chǎn zhùmíng de Ān rú pútaojiǔ。
The chalky soil around Saumur produces the famous Anjou wines.
I have twenty novels and countless magazine stories to my credit.
7
两个酿酒地区之间有着显著的差别。
liǎng gè niàng jiǔ dìqū zhījiān yǒuzhe xiǎnzhù de chābié。
There are obvious distinctions between the two wine-making areas.
8
她戒了酒，但又开始执著于体重问题。
tā jiè le jiǔ， dàn yòu kāishǐ zhí zhe yú tǐzhòng wèntí。
She stopped drinking but began obsessing about her weight.
9
伦道夫的著作专门论述污染对健康的影响。
lún dào fū de zhùzuò zhuānmén lùnshù wūrǎn duì jiànkāng de yǐngxiǎng。
Randolph's work was exclusively concerned with the effects of pollution on health.
10
他们使用武力把土著居民驱逐出了比较肥沃的土地。
tāmen shǐyòng wǔlì bǎ tǔ zhe jūmín qūzhú chū le bǐjiào féiwò de tǔdì。
They used force to banish the natives from the more fertile land.
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Cultural Notes for 著
💡Did you know?
'著' is often used in literary contexts, indicating something that has been written or published. In Chinese literature, the act of writing is highly revered, and many famous authors have contributed to the richness of Chinese literature.
Word Family of 著
Compounds4
躇chúto hesitate, to falter; undecided
墸zhù
擆zhuó
鐯zhuó
Words containing this character20
著名zhùmíngfamous
著zhe[action in progress]
显著xiǎnzhùoutstanding顯著
著作zhùzuòto write
著称zhùchēngto be widely known as著稱
土著tǔzhùaboriginal
臭名昭著chòumíngzhāozhùnotorious
名著míngzhùmasterpiece
原著yuánzhùoriginal work (not translation or abridged)
著作权zhùzuòquáncopyright著作權
专著zhuānzhùmonograph專著
土著人tǔzhùrénaboriginal
卓著zhuózhùoutstanding
论著lùnzhùtreatise論著
巨著jùzhùmonumental (literary) work
编著biānzhùto compile編著
著述zhùshùwriting
合著hézhùto write jointly
著书zhùshūto write a book著書
著录zhùlùto record著錄
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 著
What does 躇 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 著
著 (zhe) and 了 (le) are both aspect markers in Chinese, but they serve different functions. 著 indicates an ongoing state or the result of an action, while 了 typically indicates a completed action. Understanding when to use each can help clarify the timing of actions in sentences.
In Chinese literature, 著 (zhù) often appears in the context of writing or authorship, as it means 'to write' or 'to publish'. It is commonly seen in the titles of books or when discussing famous authors, as in '著作' (zhùzuò), meaning 'works' or 'literary works'.
著 (zhe, zhù) can mean 'to make known', 'to show', or 'to prove'. It is also used to refer to a 'book' or something that is 'outstanding'. The context in which it is used can change its meaning greatly.
著 (zhe) is often used as a verbal particle to indicate the result or state of an action, similar to the English 'ing' form. For example, in the sentence '我正在看书著' (I am reading a book), it shows the ongoing nature of the action. It can also be used in phrases like '著名' (zhùmíng), meaning 'famous'.
You can use 著 to indicate that something is being shown or proven, such as in the sentence '这本书著名' (This book is famous).
Yes, 著 is often used in formal writing, especially in academic or literary contexts.
Yes, 著 can be synonymous with other terms for writing or proving, but its specific nuance is important to maintain.
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