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March 24, 2026
囑zhǔ(zhu3)
The character 囑 (zhǔ) means to instruct or order someone to do something, often in a formal context. It can also refer to a testament or a message that conveys important instructions or wishes. This character is commonly used in settings where clear directives or final wishes are required.
Strokes24Radical口Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of passing down instructions or wishes is highly valued, especially in family settings. This is reflected in practices like writing wills or giving life advice to children.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wise old man (representing authority) giving instructions to his children under a tree (the radical '囗' suggests a boundary or enclosure). The sound 'zhǔ' is like 'jew'—think of a family heirloom being passed down with specific instructions.
Meanings of 囑
zhǔ(zhu3)
1to instruct, to order, to tell; testament
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 囑
囑Simplified
24Strokes
口Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 囑
Podcast: 囑
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AI Study Notes for 囑
Quick Contrast
嘱 (zhǔ) - use 囑 (zhǔ) for formal instructions or orders, while 嘱 (zhǔ) is more often used in informal or spoken contexts.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a wise old man (representing authority) giving instructions to his children under a tree (the radical '囗' suggests a boundary or enclosure). The sound 'zhǔ' is like 'jew'—think of a family heirloom being passed down with specific instructions.
Usage Notes
因囑 is often used in formal settings, so it may sound out of place in casual conversations. It's commonly found in legal contexts or when discussing wills. Be mindful of tone; using the wrong tone could confuse its meaning.
HSK Study Tips
While 囑 is not currently part of the HSK vocabulary list, it can be connected to other characters involving instruction or communication, such as 告 (gào) which means to inform. Students should focus on recognizing this character in formal texts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of passing down instructions or wishes is highly valued, especially in family settings. This is reflected in practices like writing wills or giving life advice to children.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 囑 with 祝 (zhù), which means to wish or bless. For example, saying '我囑你生日快乐' (I instruct you a happy birthday) instead of '我祝你生日快乐' (I wish you a happy birthday) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 囑
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Cultural Notes for 囑
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of passing down instructions or wishes is highly valued, especially in family settings. This is reflected in practices like writing wills or giving life advice to children.
Word Family of 囑
Words Containing This Character7
遗嘱yízhǔwill遺囑
嘱咐zhǔfùto tell囑咐
叮嘱dīngzhǔto urge叮囑
嘱zhǔto enjoin囑
医嘱doctor's advice醫囑
嘱托to entrust a task to sb else囑託
千叮万嘱repeatedly urging千叮萬囑
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 遗嘱 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 囑
囑 emphasizes formal instructions or orders, while 告 is more about informing or telling someone something.
It's best to avoid using 囑 in casual settings, as it carries a formal tone.
囑 is often found in documents related to wills or testaments, indicating the instructions of the deceased.
