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媾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
gòuto marry; to be intimate withv, 13 strokes, radical 女, rank #61349, Very Hard
gòuto copulateunknown, 13 strokes, radical 女, rank #61349, Very Hard
gòu(gou4) T4
  1. 1to marry; to be intimate with
  2. 2to copulate
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March 24, 2026

gòu(gou4)

The character 媾 (gòu) primarily means to marry or to engage in intimacy. It can refer to both the act of marrying and the physical aspect of intimacy or copulation. This term is relatively formal and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more likely to appear in literature or discussions about relationships.

Strokes13RadicalFrequency#61349DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, marriage is considered a significant milestone, often involving ceremonies that honor family and ancestry. The term 媾 highlights the importance of both emotional and physical intimacy in these unions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a couple (the '女' radical suggests femininity) exchanging vows under a large '口' (mouth) that signifies connection and intimacy. The character 媾 combines these elements to symbolize a deep bond or marriage, helping you remember its meaning and sound (gòu).

Meanings of 媾

gòu(gou4)
1to marry; to be intimate with
2to copulate
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 媾

Simplified
13Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 媾

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AI Study Notes for 媾

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a couple (the '女' radical suggests femininity) exchanging vows under a large '口' (mouth) that signifies connection and intimacy. The character 媾 combines these elements to symbolize a deep bond or marriage, helping you remember its meaning and sound (gòu).

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the context in which you use 媾, as it carries a formal tone and is less common in casual conversation. It often collocates with terms related to relationships and marriage, such as '结婚' (jiéhūn - to get married). Additionally, ensure you use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While 媾 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it can be useful when discussing relationships at an advanced level. Students should focus on its nuances in formal contexts, compared to more commonly used terms like '结婚' (jiéhūn) for marriage.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, marriage is considered a significant milestone, often involving ceremonies that honor family and ancestry. The term 媾 highlights the importance of both emotional and physical intimacy in these unions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 媾 with more commonly used marriage terms like '结婚' (jiéhūn), leading to incorrect usage in informal contexts. For example, saying '我喜欢媾' (I like to marry) instead of '我想结婚' (I want to get married) is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 媾

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Etymology of 媾

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

To know a woman's 女 secret 冓; 冓 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 媾?

Decomposition of 媾

IDS Structure⿰女冓
Full Character
=
nü3
left
gou4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 媾?

Write 媾

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

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Cultural Notes for 媾

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese culture, marriage is considered a significant milestone, often involving ceremonies that honor family and ancestry. The term 媾 highlights the importance of both emotional and physical intimacy in these unions.

Word Family of 媾

Words Containing This Character4
媾和to make peace
交媾to have sex
gòuto marry
媾合to copulate
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 媾和 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 媾

No, 媾 is more formal and less frequently used in casual dialogue. More common terms like '结婚' (jiéhūn) are preferred.