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褚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
chǔbag, valise; to pad, to stuff; surnamenr, 13 strokes, radical 衤, Very Hard
chǔsurname Chuunknown, 13 strokes, radical 衤, Very Hard
chǔpadding (in garment)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 衤, Very Hard
chǔto store upunknown, 13 strokes, radical 衤, Very Hard
chǔpocketunknown, 13 strokes, radical 衤, Very Hard
chǔTaiwan pr. [chu3]unknown, 13 strokes, radical 衤, Very Hard
zhǔbag, valise; to pad, to stuff; surnamenr, 13 strokes, radical 衤, Very Hard
zhǔsurname Chuunknown, 13 strokes, radical 衤, Very Hard
zhǔpadding (in garment)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 衤, Very Hard
zhǔto store upunknown, 13 strokes, radical 衤, Very Hard
zhǔpocketunknown, 13 strokes, radical 衤, Very Hard
zhǔTaiwan pr. [chu3]unknown, 13 strokes, radical 衤, Very Hard
chǔ(Chu3)
primary
T3
  1. 1bag, valise; to pad, to stuff; surname
  2. 2padding (in garment)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
chǔ(Chu3)

The character 褚 (chǔ) primarily refers to a type of bag or valise used for storage. It can also denote the act of padding or stuffing, commonly in the context of garments. Additionally, it serves as a surname in Chinese culture, adding a layer of significance in familial contexts.

Strokes13RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The surname 褚 is associated with notable historical figures in Chinese history, particularly during the Tang Dynasty, which adds cultural depth to the character beyond its literal meanings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a character named 'Chu' who loves to stuff his bag (褚) with all sorts of things. Visualize him padding the bag with soft items to protect them, which connects the shape of the character's components to its meaning.

Meanings of 褚

chǔ(Chu3)
primary
1bag, valise; to pad, to stuff; surname
2padding (in garment)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 褚

Simplified
13Strokes
Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 褚

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 褚

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a character named 'Chu' who loves to stuff his bag (褚) with all sorts of things. Visualize him padding the bag with soft items to protect them, which connects the shape of the character's components to its meaning.

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 褚 is not commonly used in everyday conversation and may be more relevant in literary or formal contexts. Students often confuse this character with similar-sounding ones, so focus on the pronunciation and tone. Common collocations include terms related to storage or padding.

HSK Study Tips

Although 褚 is not included in the HSK curriculum, understanding it can enhance vocabulary related to storage and clothing. Focus on the character's components and practice related terms to build a broader context.

Cultural Note

The surname 褚 is associated with notable historical figures in Chinese history, particularly during the Tang Dynasty, which adds cultural depth to the character beyond its literal meanings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 褚 with similar characters like 褐 (hè), which means 'brown'. A common mistake could be using 褚 to refer to colors or materials, where '褐' would be appropriate. Always verify the context when using these characters.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 褚

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Etymology of 褚

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 衤 represents the meaning and 者 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

cloth

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 褚?

Decomposition of 褚

IDS Structure⿰衤者
Full Character
=
yi1
left
zhe3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 褚?

Write 褚

Practice writing 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 褚

🏮Cultural insight

The surname 褚 is associated with notable historical figures in Chinese history, particularly during the Tang Dynasty, which adds cultural depth to the character beyond its literal meanings.

Word Family of 褚

Words Containing This Character2
chǔpocket
褚遂良Chu Suiliang (596-659), one of Four Great Calligraphers of early Tang 唐初四大家[Táng​chū​Sì​Dà​jiā]
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 褚 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 褚

In everyday language, 褚 mainly refers to a type of bag or valise, though it is not frequently used.