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陬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
陬zōucorner, cranny, nicheg, 10 strokes, radical 阝
陬zōufoot of mountainunknown, 10 strokes, radical 阝
zōu(zou1) T1
  1. 1corner, cranny, niche
  2. 2foot of mountain
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

陬zōu(zou1)

The character 陬 (zōu) means a corner or cranny, often referring to a small, secluded space. It can also denote the foot of a mountain, emphasizing the boundary or edge of a larger area. This term is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in literary or geographical contexts.

Strokes10Radical阝
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese poetry and literature, references to corners and hidden places often symbolize introspection and tranquility, reflecting the importance of nature in Chinese culture. The concept of a secluded niche connects to the idea of finding peace amidst the chaos of life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny, hidden corner (陬) where two walls meet, with a mountain looming nearby. The character looks like a house (阝) with a little nook (凵) inside, suggesting a secret place at the foot of a mountain where you can find peace.

Meanings of 陬

zōu(zou1)
1corner, cranny, niche
2foot of mountain
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 陬

陬Simplified
10Strokes
阝Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 陬

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Podcast: 陬

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AI Study Notes for 陬

Usage Notes

Since 陬 is not frequently used in modern spoken Chinese, it's often seen in literary texts or specific geographical descriptions. Be mindful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words like '走' (zǒu), which means to walk. When using this character, ensure the context is clear to avoid misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Though not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding 陬 can enhance your knowledge of geographical terms and literary expressions. Focus on recognizing its meaning and usage in context, especially in written Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 陬 with similar-sounding characters like '走' (zǒu), which means to walk. Remember that 陬 refers to a corner or niche, not movement.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 陬

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Etymology of 陬

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

place

Semantic (meaning)阝
+
Phonetic (sound)取
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 陬

  1. 1The meaning half阝 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half取 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayplace
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 陬? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 陬?

Decomposition of 陬

IDS Structure⿰阝取
陬Full Character
=
阝yi4
left
取qu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 陬?

How to say corner, cranny, niche in Chinese

“corner, cranny, niche” in Chinese is陬zōu

The character 陬 (zōu) means a corner or cranny, often referring to a small, secluded space. It can also denote the foot of a mountain, emphasizing the boundary or edge of a larger area. This term is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in literary or geographical contexts.

When to use 陬

Since 陬 is not frequently used in modern spoken Chinese, it's often seen in literary texts or specific geographical descriptions. Be mindful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words like '走' (zǒu), which means to walk. When using this character, ensure the context is clear to avoid misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 陬 with similar-sounding characters like '走' (zǒu), which means to walk. Remember that 陬 refers to a corner or niche, not movement.

Write 陬

陬

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 陬

Words Containing This Character1
陬zōucorner
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 陬 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 陬

No, 陬 is more often found in literary contexts rather than in everyday spoken Chinese.

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