Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
讵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
an interjection of surprised, 6 strokes, radical 讠, Very Hard
how (interj. of surprise)unknown, 6 strokes, radical 讠, Very Hard
(ju4) T4
  1. 1an interjection of surprise
  2. 2how (interj. of surprise)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(詎)(ju4)

The character 讵 (jù) is an interjection used to express surprise or disbelief. It is often used in literary contexts or in formal speech to emphasize astonishment, similar to saying 'how could it be?' in English. When used in conversation, it can convey a strong reaction to unexpected information.

Strokes6RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese literature, exclamatory phrases like 讵 are often used to convey deep emotional reactions, reflecting the importance of emotional expression in Chinese poetry and prose.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person who hears shocking news and exclaims 'jù!' as if they are jumping back in surprise. The character itself has a mouth radical 言 (yán) which relates to speaking or exclaiming, hinting at its use in expressing unexpected reactions.

Meanings of 讵

(ju4)
1an interjection of surprise
2how (interj. of surprise)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 讵

Simplified
Traditional
6Strokes
Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 讵

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 讵

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person who hears shocking news and exclaims 'jù!' as if they are jumping back in surprise. The character itself has a mouth radical 言 (yán) which relates to speaking or exclaiming, hinting at its use in expressing unexpected reactions.

Usage Notes

讵 is less commonly used in everyday conversation and is more likely to appear in written or formal contexts. It's important to match the tone of your expression with the situation; using it in casual conversation may come off as overly dramatic. Be careful with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can change its meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 讵 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding its usage can enhance your reading comprehension of classical texts. Focus on recognizing it in literature or formal dialogues, and relate it to other interjections you have learned, such as 哦 (ó) or 啊 (ā).

Cultural Note

In Chinese literature, exclamatory phrases like 讵 are often used to convey deep emotional reactions, reflecting the importance of emotional expression in Chinese poetry and prose.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 讵 with similar sounding interjections like 嘿 (hēi) or 哦 (ó), which are more casual. For example, using 讵 in a friendly conversation can sound overly formal and may not convey the intended surprise.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 讵

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 讵

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

speech

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 讵?

Decomposition of 讵

IDS Structure⿰讠巨
Full Character
=
yan2
left
ju4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 讵?

Write 讵

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 讵

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese literature, exclamatory phrases like 讵 are often used to convey deep emotional reactions, reflecting the importance of emotional expression in Chinese poetry and prose.

Word Family of 讵

Words Containing This Character1
how (interj. of surprise)
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 讵 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 讵

Use 讵 in formal writing or when discussing literature, as it conveys a sense of surprise that is typically reserved for dramatic or impactful moments.