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壴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
壴zhùdrumx, 9 strokes, radical 士
壴zhùsurname Zhuunknown, 9 strokes, radical 士
zhù(Zhu4) T4
  1. 1drum
Also a Chinese surname, Zhu — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

壴zhù(Zhu4)

The character 壴 (zhù) primarily refers to a type of drum, often used in traditional Chinese music. It can also serve as a surname, Zhu, which is less common and primarily found in certain regions. The character conveys a sense of rhythm and sound associated with drumming.

Strokes9Radical士
Cultural Note

Drums, represented by 壴, hold a significant place in Chinese culture, often used in celebrations, festivals, and traditional performances to invoke emotions and drive the rhythm of the event.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large drum (壴) with the sound echoing through the air. The top part of the character resembles a roof, suggesting the drum's body, while the bottom represents the ground it sits on, emphasizing its stability and rhythm.

Meanings of 壴

zhù(Zhu4)
1drum
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 壴

壴Simplified
9Strokes
士Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 壴

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Podcast: 壴

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AI Study Notes for 壴

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation and is more likely found in musical contexts or historical texts. Be cautious of its tone, as mispronouncing it (using a neutral tone instead of the falling tone) can lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

壴 is not included in the HSK levels but can be associated with Level 3 terms related to music and instruments. Students should focus on pronunciation and recognizing it in written form, especially when studying traditional music.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 壴 with other characters that sound similar, such as 住 (zhù, to live). A common mistake is writing it with an incorrect tone, leading to miscommunication. Always remember the correct pronunciation and context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 壴

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Etymology of 壴

Formation TypePictographic 象形
六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Explanation

Pictograph of a drum with some sort of decoration on top.

Memory Hint

A drum 口 on a stand with feathers 土 on top

Learn more about Pictograph (象形字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 壴

Pictograph of a drum with some sort of decoration on top.

  1. 1The giveawayA drum 口 on a stand with feathers 土 on top
  2. 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.

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

Want the full history of 壴? 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 壴?

Decomposition of 壴

IDS Structure⿱土口
壴Full Character
=
土Tu3
top
口kou3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 壴?

How to say drum in Chinese

“drum” in Chinese is壴zhù

The character 壴 (zhù) primarily refers to a type of drum, often used in traditional Chinese music. It can also serve as a surname, Zhu, which is less common and primarily found in certain regions. The character conveys a sense of rhythm and sound associated with drumming.

When to use 壴

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation and is more likely found in musical contexts or historical texts. Be cautious of its tone, as mispronouncing it (using a neutral tone instead of the falling tone) can lead to confusion with other words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 壴 with other characters that sound similar, such as 住 (zhù, to live). A common mistake is writing it with an incorrect tone, leading to miscommunication. Always remember the correct pronunciation and context.

Write 壴

壴

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 壴

壴 is primarily associated with musical contexts, particularly traditional drumming. It may also appear in discussions about historical or cultural performances.

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Not sure what to learn after 壴?

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.