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佝 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
佝gōuricketsn, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #47820, Very Hard
佝kòuricketsn, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #47820, Very Hard
gōu(gou1)
primary
T1
  1. 1rickets
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

佝gōu(gou1)

The character 佝 (gōu) refers to a condition known as rickets, which is a disease caused by vitamin D deficiency, leading to weak or soft bones in children. It is often mentioned in medical contexts, particularly when discussing health and nutrition.

Strokes7Radical亻Frequency#47820DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the importance of nutrition, particularly vitamin D, has been recognized for maintaining bone health, especially in children, making the term relevant in both modern and historical discussions of health.

Memory Tip

Think of the character 佝 as a child (the left-side radical 亻 represents a person) who is hunched over due to weak bones (the right-side component could evoke the idea of bending). Imagine this child struggling to stand straight, reminding you of the meaning 'rickets' and the pronunciation 'gōu'.

Meanings of 佝

gōu(gou1)
primary
1rickets
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 佝

佝Simplified
7Strokes
亻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 佝

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Podcast: 佝

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AI Study Notes for 佝

Usage Notes

In medical discussions, 佝 is often used in formal contexts. Ensure you use it correctly to refer to the specific condition of rickets rather than general bone weakness. It’s important to distinguish it from similar sounding terms in conversation.

HSK Study Tips

Since 佝 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, focus on understanding its medical context and how it relates to health discussions. Students at this level should also familiarize themselves with related terms about health and nutrition.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 佝 with similar characters like 骨 (gǔ), which means bone. For example, saying 佝 for general bone issues is incorrect; use 骨 for that context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 佝

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Etymology of 佝

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 佝

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

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Decomposition of 佝

IDS Structure⿰亻句
佝Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
句gou1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 佝?

How to say rickets in Chinese

“rickets” in Chinese is佝gōu

The character 佝 (gōu) refers to a condition known as rickets, which is a disease caused by vitamin D deficiency, leading to weak or soft bones in children. It is often mentioned in medical contexts, particularly when discussing health and nutrition.

When to use 佝

In medical discussions, 佝 is often used in formal contexts. Ensure you use it correctly to refer to the specific condition of rickets rather than general bone weakness. It’s important to distinguish it from similar sounding terms in conversation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 佝 with similar characters like 骨 (gǔ), which means bone. For example, saying 佝 for general bone issues is incorrect; use 骨 for that context.

Write 佝

佝

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 佝

佝 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

别____着背,把腰挺直。

Don't arch your back, keep your spine straight.

Example Sentences for 佝 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
别佝着背,把腰挺直。

bié gōu zháo bèi, , bǎ yāo tǐng。

Don't arch your back, keep your spine straight.
Exercise 1 of 1

Reorder the Sentence

Don't arch your back, keep your spine straight.

Tap tokens to build the sentence

Word Family of 佝

Words Containing This Character3
佝偻病rickets (medicine)佝僂病
佝gōustooped
佝偻stooped佝僂
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 佝偻病 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 佝

佝 means rickets, a condition associated with bone weakness due to vitamin D deficiency.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 佝?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.