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侏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
侏zhūsmall, tiny; dwarft, 8 strokes, radical 亻
zhū(zhu1) T1
  1. 1small, tiny; dwarf
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

侏zhū(zhu1)

The character 侏 (zhū) refers to something that is small or tiny, often used in the context of describing a dwarf or something that is diminutive in size. It can denote a sense of being lesser or smaller than the average, commonly used in literature and discussions about size differences.

Strokes8Radical亻
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of dwarfs or small stature has been historically depicted in folklore and literature, sometimes symbolizing unique talents or characteristics. The character might appear in stories that highlight the strengths of those who appear physically small.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'tiny' person who is 'dwarfed' by others, and imagine a small 'zoo' where all the animals are miniatures. The character 侏 resembles a person (亻) standing next to a smaller figure, emphasizing the concept of being small or dwarf-like.

Meanings of 侏

zhū(zhu1)
1small, tiny; dwarf
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 侏

侏Simplified
8Strokes
亻Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 侏

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Podcast: 侏

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AI Study Notes for 侏

Usage Notes

This character is often used in literary contexts and may sound formal in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; ensure the pronunciation is clear to avoid misunderstandings. Common collocations include 侏儒 (zhūrú), meaning 'dwarf.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 侏 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is beneficial for students at HSK level 4 and above to familiarize themselves with descriptive terms. Focus on using it in context with other size-related vocabulary, such as 小 (small) and 矮 (short).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 侏 with the character 矮 (ǎi), which means short but does not carry the same connotation of dwarfism. For example, saying '她很侏' (Tā hěn zhū) to mean 'She is short' is incorrect; it should be '她很矮' (Tā hěn ǎi).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 侏

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Etymology of 侏

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

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 朱 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

person

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 侏

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 朱 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half亻 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half朱 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayperson
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 侏? 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 侏?

Decomposition of 侏

IDS Structure⿰亻朱
侏Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
朱Zhu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 侏?

How to say small, tiny; dwarf in Chinese

“small, tiny; dwarf” in Chinese is侏zhū

The character 侏 (zhū) refers to something that is small or tiny, often used in the context of describing a dwarf or something that is diminutive in size. It can denote a sense of being lesser or smaller than the average, commonly used in literature and discussions about size differences.

When to use 侏

This character is often used in literary contexts and may sound formal in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; ensure the pronunciation is clear to avoid misunderstandings. Common collocations include 侏儒 (zhūrú), meaning 'dwarf.'

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 侏 with the character 矮 (ǎi), which means short but does not carry the same connotation of dwarfism. For example, saying '她很侏' (Tā hěn zhū) to mean 'She is short' is incorrect; it should be '她很矮' (Tā hěn ǎi).

Write 侏

侏

Practice writing 侏 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 侏

Words Containing This Character3
侏儒dwarf
侏罗纪Jurassic (geological period 205-140m years ago)侏羅紀
侏zhūdwarf
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 侏儒 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 侏

No, 侏 is more often found in literary contexts and less common in casual speech.

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