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March 24, 2026
顾(顧)gù(Gu4)
The character 顾 (gù) primarily means 'to look after' or 'to attend to.' It is commonly used in contexts where one is taking care of someone or something, as well as in phrases that involve consideration or reflection. In addition to its verb forms, 顾 can also be a surname in China.
Strokes10Radical页Frequency#5745DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of looking after others is deeply rooted in Confucian values of family and social responsibility. The term 顾 is often associated with filial piety, where caring for one's elders is considered a virtue.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'guardian' (顾) looking after a young child. The radical '毛' (máo) suggests something soft and nurturing, while the '口' (kǒu) represents the mouth, as in speaking kindly to the child. Together, they form a mental image of someone who cares and communicates.
Meanings of 顾
gù(Gu4)
1to look after
2to take into consideration
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 顾
顾Simplified
顧Traditional
10Strokes
页Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#5745Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 顾
Podcast: 顾
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AI Study Notes for 顾
Quick Contrast
照顾 (zhàogù, to take care of) vs 顾 (gù, to look after) — use 照顾 when emphasizing the act of caring for someone, while 顾 can imply a broader sense of attention or consideration.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'guardian' (顾) looking after a young child. The radical '毛' (máo) suggests something soft and nurturing, while the '口' (kǒu) represents the mouth, as in speaking kindly to the child. Together, they form a mental image of someone who cares and communicates.
Usage Notes
顾 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but learners should be careful with its different meanings based on context. A common mistake is confusing 顾 with other similar characters like 看 (kàn), which means 'to see' or 'to look.' Collocations include 顾及 (gù jí, to take into account) and 不顾 (bù gù, to disregard).
HSK Study Tips
Although 顾 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK words related to care and consideration, such as 照顾 (zhào gù, to take care of). Students should focus on how 顾 expresses attention and consideration in various phrases.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of looking after others is deeply rooted in Confucian values of family and social responsibility. The term 顾 is often associated with filial piety, where caring for one's elders is considered a virtue.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 顾 with similar characters like 看 (kàn), leading to incorrect translations such as 'to see' instead of 'to look after.' Ensure you understand the context to use the right term.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 顾
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Grammar Patterns of 顾
顾 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
顾 can mean to look after, while 顾 (Gù) can be a surname.
1
顾老师是我的老师。
顾 can mean to look after, while 顾 (Gù) can be a surname.
💡Think of 顾 as 'to care for' to differentiate from the surname.
Usage Notes for 顾
Confusing 顾 with other similar verbsCommon Error
Learners often confuse 顾 with verbs like 关心 (to care) or 注意 (to pay attention). It's important to understand the specific contexts in which each verb is used.
The couple have sought help from marriage guidance counsellors.
6
这实质上是一种狭隘的、因循守旧的照顾孩子的方法。
zhè shí zhì shàng shì yī zhǒng xiá ài de、 、 yīn xún shǒu jiù de zhào gù hái zǐ de fāng。
It is essentially a narrow and conservative approach to child care.
7
她拒绝把科林由“法律顾问”这一低级别往上提。
tā jù jué bǎ kē lín yóu“ “ fǎ lǜ gù” wèn ” zhè yī dī jí bié wǎng。
She refused to promote Colin above the low rank of "legal adviser".
8
正如一位愤世嫉俗的旧主顾所说的那样，“他很可能把差额塞进了自己的腰包！”
zhèng rú yī wèi fèn shì jí sú de jiù zhǔ gù suǒ shuō de nà yàng，“ ，“ tā hěn kě néng bǎ chà é sāi jìn le zì jǐ de yāo！”
As one former customer said cynically, "He's probably pocketed the difference!"
9
他不顾医生的劝告自行出院了。
tā bù gù yī shēng de quàn gào zì háng chū yuàn le。
He discharged himself from hospital against the advice of doctors.
10
雪利的兄弟现在在瑞典做心脏外科高级顾问医师。
xuě lì de xiōng dì xiàn zài zài ruì diǎn zuò xīn zāng wài kē gāo jí gù wèn yī shī。
Shirley's brother is now a consultant heart surgeon in Sweden.
Cultural Notes for 顾
💡Did you know?
'顾' is a common surname in China. It is often associated with families that emphasize care and attention to relationships, reflecting a cultural value placed on family and community.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of looking after others is deeply rooted in Confucian values of family and social responsibility. The term 顾 is often associated with filial piety, where caring for one's elders is considered a virtue.
Word Family of 顾
Words Containing This Character20
照顾zhàogùto take care of照顧
顾客gùkèclient顧客
顾问gùwènadviser顧問
回顾huígùto look back回顧
顾gùto look after顧
不顾búgùin spite of不顧
顾虑gùlǜmisgivings顧慮
兼顾jiāngùto attend simultaneously to two or more things兼顧
光顾guānggùto visit (as a customer)光顧
不顾一切reckless不顧一切
顾及gùjíto attend to顧及
只顾zhǐgùengrossed只顧
眷顾to care for眷顧
顾忌worry顧忌
后顾之忧hòugùzhīyōuworries about the future consequences後顧之憂
义无反顾no surrender義無反顧
环顾to survey環顧
顾不得gùbudeunable to change sth顧不得
不屑一顾bùxièyīgùto disdain as beneath contempt (idiom)不屑一顧
奋不顾身regardless of perils奮不顧身
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 照顾 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 顾
顾 (gù) and 注意 (zhùyì) both relate to attention but are used differently. 顾 emphasizes consideration and care for someone or something, while 注意 generally means 'to pay attention' or 'to notice.' Understanding the context will help clarify their use.
To use 顾 in a sentence, you might say '我会顾及你的感受' (Wǒ huì gùjí nǐ de gǎnshòu), which means 'I will take your feelings into consideration.' This shows how the character can convey the act of being attentive and considerate.
Yes, 顾 (Gù) is a common surname in China. It ranks among the top surnames and is often associated with various historical figures.
顾 (gù) primarily means 'to take into consideration' or 'to look after.' It is also used as a surname. In different contexts, it can imply attending to someone or something, emphasizing care and attention.
In a sentence, 顾 can mean 'to take care of someone,' such as in '他很顾家' (tā hěn gù jiā), meaning 'He takes good care of his family.'
No, 顾 can also be a surname in China, commonly pronounced as 'Gù.'
Yes, 顾 is appropriate in both formal and informal settings, but context is key to its meaning.
