Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
咕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
咕
gū
mumble, mutter, murmur; rumble
o, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #8987, Very Hard
咕
gū
(onom.) for the sound of a bird, an empty stomach etc
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #8987, Very Hard
gū(gu1)gu T1
1mumble, mutter, murmur; rumble
2(onom.) for the sound of a bird, an empty stomach etc
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
咕gū(gu1)
The character 咕 (gū) primarily refers to sounds made when mumbling, muttering, or murmuring. It is also used to describe the rumbling sounds, such as those made by an empty stomach or certain birds. This character conveys a sense of low, indistinct sound, often implying something soft or subdued.
Strokes8Radical口Frequency#8987DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the sound represented by 咕 can be associated with hunger, as it mimics the sound of a stomach rumbling. This sound is often humorously referenced in cartoons and children's stories when characters are hungry.
Memory tip
Imagine a sleepy bird (the sound of 咕 resembles a soft cooing) mumbling in a nest. Visualize the bird’s round body (the character's round shape) as it softly murmurs, representing the gentle sounds of murmuring or a rumbling stomach.
Meanings of 咕
gū(gu1)
1mumble, mutter, murmur; rumble
2(onom.) for the sound of a bird, an empty stomach etc
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 咕 means.
About 咕
咕Simplified
8Strokes
口Radical
拟声词onomatopoeia (onom.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 咕
Podcast: 咕
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 咕
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 咕 with similar-sounding characters. It's generally informal, so avoid using it in formal writing. Common collocations include 咕噜 (gūlū), which implies a continuous murmur or rumble, especially of a stomach.
HSK Study Tips
Although 咕 is not at a specific HSK level, it connects to HSK vocabulary that describes sounds and feelings. Students should focus on the sounds it represents and practice using it in phrases to describe various contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 咕 for louder or more distinct sounds instead of its intended soft or muted context. For example, saying '咕咕叫' (gūgū jiào) when referring to a loud noise is incorrect; it should be used for softer sounds.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 咕
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 咕, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 咕 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 咕?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 咕 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.
咕 = 口 + 古. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 咕
IDS Structure⿰口古
咕Full character
=
口kou3
left
古Gu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 咕?
How to say mumble, mutter, murmur; rumble in Chinese
“mumble, mutter, murmur; rumble” in Chinese is咕gū
The character 咕 (gū) primarily refers to sounds made when mumbling, muttering, or murmuring. It is also used to describe the rumbling sounds, such as those made by an empty stomach or certain birds. This character conveys a sense of low, indistinct sound, often implying something soft or subdued.
When to use 咕
Learners often confuse 咕 with similar-sounding characters. It's generally informal, so avoid using it in formal writing. Common collocations include 咕噜 (gūlū), which implies a continuous murmur or rumble, especially of a stomach.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 咕 for louder or more distinct sounds instead of its intended soft or muted context. For example, saying '咕咕叫' (gūgū jiào) when referring to a loud noise is incorrect; it should be used for softer sounds.
Write 咕
咕
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 咕 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 咕
咕 functions as an onomatopoeic word — it imitates a sound. It often functions as an adverbial or stand-alone exclamation rather than a true verb or noun. It carries 2 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他们所谓的回答不过是表示承认的____哝罢了。
Their replies were no more than grunts of acknowledgement.
Example sentences for 咕 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他们所谓的回答不过是表示承认的咕哝罢了。
tāmen suǒwèi de huídá búguò shì biǎoshì chéngrèn de gū nóng bàle。
Their replies were no more than grunts of acknowledgement.
2
麦圭尔举起瓶子咕咚咕咚地喝了一大通苦柠檬汁。
mài guī ěr jǔ qǐ píngzi gū dōng gū dōng dì hē le yī dà tōng kǔ níng méng zhī。
McGuire took a long swig from his bottle of bitter lemon.
3
尽管他只是在咕哝，可是他的措词却让罗德妮恼火。
jǐnguǎn tā zhǐshì zài gū nóng， kěshì tā de cuò cí què ràng luō dé nī nǎohuǒ。
Although he was only grumbling, his choice of words made Rodney angry.
4
没几分钟，我就走开了，留下他们在那儿叽里咕噜地说个不停。
méi jǐ fēnzhōng， wǒ jiù zǒukāi le， liúxia tāmen zài nàr jī lǐ gū lū dì shuō gè bùtíng。
After a minute or two I left them there jabbering away.
