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March 24, 2026
促cù(cu4)
The character 促 (cù) primarily means 'to urge' or 'to promote', often used in contexts where speed or urgency is emphasized. It can also denote a close relationship or intimacy between people or things. This character is commonly found in phrases related to encouraging action or hastening processes.
Strokes9Radical亻Frequency#23955DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of urgency is often tied to the importance of relationships and timeliness in business and social interactions. The use of 促 emphasizes the respect for time and the need to be proactive in relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a coach urging his players to run faster during a game. The character 促 resembles a person with arms outstretched, pushing others forward, emphasizing the idea of urging or promoting urgency.
Meanings of 促
cù(cu4)
1urgent
2hurried
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 促
促Simplified
9Strokes
亻Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#23955Frequency Rank
Podcast: 促
Podcast: 促
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AI Study Notes for 促
Quick Contrast
催 (cuī) - use 促 (cù) when emphasizing promotion or encouragement, while 催 (cuī) focuses more on urging someone to do something urgently.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 促 with similar-sounding words like 速 (sù), which means 'fast' or 'speed'. The verb is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but common collocations include 促进 (cùjìn, to promote) and 促使 (cùshǐ, to urge). Remember to use the third tone correctly while pronouncing this character.
HSK Study Tips
While 促 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it connects well with other action verbs and words related to urgency, such as 急 (jí, urgent) and 快 (kuài, fast). Students should focus on its usage in sentences to understand its implications in action-oriented contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 促 in contexts where a simple ‘fast’ or ‘quick’ would suffice. For example, saying '我需要促这个项目' instead of '我需要加快这个项目' (I need to speed up this project) is incorrect. The correct usage emphasizes urgency rather than mere speed.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 促
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Knowing 促 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 促 (cù) primarily means 'to urge' or 'to promote', often used in contexts where speed or urgency is emphasized. It can also denote a close relationship or intimacy between people or things. This character is commonly found in phrases related to encouraging action or hastening processes.
When to use 促
Be careful not to confuse 促 with similar-sounding words like 速 (sù), which means 'fast' or 'speed'. The verb is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but common collocations include 促进 (cùjìn, to promote) and 促使 (cùshǐ, to urge). Remember to use the third tone correctly while pronouncing this character.
促 or something close to it
催 (cuī) - use 促 (cù) when emphasizing promotion or encouragement, while 催 (cuī) focuses more on urging someone to do something urgently.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 促 in contexts where a simple ‘fast’ or ‘quick’ would suffice. For example, saying '我需要促这个项目' instead of '我需要加快这个项目' (I need to speed up this project) is incorrect. The correct usage emphasizes urgency rather than mere speed.
Write 促
促
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Grammar Patterns of 促
促 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 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
The formalization of co-operation between the republics would produce progress.
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Word Family of 促
Words Containing This Character20
促进cùjìnboost促進
促使cùshǐto induce
促销cùxiāoto promote sales促銷
促成cùchéngto facilitate
仓促cāngcùhurriedly倉促
促cùurgent
督促dūcùto urge on
催促cuīcùto urge
急促urgent
敦促dūncùto press
短促duǎncùfleeting
局促cramped侷促
局促不安ill at ease
促膝谈心to sit side-by-side and have a heart-to-heart talk (idiom)促膝談心
促膝intimate
力促to urge
促请to urge促請
匆促hastily
促退to hinder
迫促to urge
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 促
What does 促进 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 促
促 can be used when discussing deadlines or encouraging someone to complete tasks quickly, like saying 'Please 促我完成这项工作' (Please urge me to finish this work).
Yes, 促 is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, especially in business discussions involving promotion or urgency.
Common phrases include 促进 (cùjìn, to promote) and 促使 (cùshǐ, to urge).
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