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拙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
拙
zhuō
awkward
ag, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #29945, Very Hard
拙
zhuō
clumsy
ag, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #29945, Very Hard
拙
zhuō
dull
ag, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #29945, Very Hard
拙
zhuō
inelegant
ag, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #29945, Very Hard
拙
zhuō
(polite) my
ag, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #29945, Very Hard
拙
zhuō
Taiwan pr. [zhuó]
ag, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #29945, Very Hard
拙
zhuō
awkward, clumsy; dull, stupid
ag, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #29945, Very Hard
拙
zhuō
Taiwan pr. [zhuo2]
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #29945, Very Hard
zhuō(zhuo1)zhuo T1
1awkward
2clumsy
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March 24, 2026
拙zhuō(zhuo1)
The character 拙 (zhuō) conveys the meaning of being awkward, clumsy, or inelegant. It is often used to describe someone's lack of skill or finesse, whether in physical actions or in expression. In a polite context, it can refer to one's own abilities or possessions, often to express humility.
Strokes8Radical扌Frequency#29945DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, humility is highly valued, and using 拙 to describe one's own work or skills is a common way to show modesty, especially in formal settings. This reflects the cultural norm of not boasting about one's achievements.
Memory tip
Imagine a person trying to perform a delicate dance but keeps tripping over their own feet, looking awkward and clumsy. The character 拙 has a hand (扌) on the left, suggesting action, and a 'bent' form on the right, hinting at inelegance. The pronunciation 'zhuō' sounds like 'draw,' which you might do clumsily if you're not skilled.
Meanings of 拙
zhuō(zhuo1)
1awkward
2clumsy
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 拙 means.
About 拙
拙Simplified
8Strokes
扌Radical
形容词性语素xíngróngcíadjective root (adj.root)Part of Speech
#29945Frequency Rank
Podcast: 拙
Podcast: 拙
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AI study notes for 拙
Quick Contrast
笨 (bèn) - use 拙 (zhuō) when emphasizing a lack of finesse or skill in a more nuanced, humble way, whereas 笨 (bèn) is more straightforwardly about being stupid or foolish.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 拙 with its similar-sounding counterpart, 卓 (zhuó), which means 'outstanding.' Remember that 拙 has a negative connotation, while 卓 is positive. Use 拙 in informal settings or when you want to express humility about your own abilities.
HSK Study Tips
As this character is not in the HSK list, learners should focus on recognizing it as a descriptor of skill level. It connects to other adjectives describing abilities, such as 能 (néng, can) and 差 (chà, poor). Understanding these relationships can help with broader vocabulary building.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 拙 by using it in contexts where a more neutral term is appropriate. For instance, saying '这幅画太拙了' (This painting is too clumsy) might sound too harsh; a better choice could be '这幅画有点简单' (This painting is a bit simple).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 拙
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 拙 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.
拙 = 扌 + 出. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 拙
IDS Structure⿰扌出
拙Full character
=
扌shou3
left
出chu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 拙?
How to say awkward in Chinese
“awkward” in Chinese is拙zhuō
The character 拙 (zhuō) conveys the meaning of being awkward, clumsy, or inelegant. It is often used to describe someone's lack of skill or finesse, whether in physical actions or in expression. In a polite context, it can refer to one's own abilities or possessions, often to express humility.
When to use 拙
A common mistake is to confuse 拙 with its similar-sounding counterpart, 卓 (zhuó), which means 'outstanding.' Remember that 拙 has a negative connotation, while 卓 is positive. Use 拙 in informal settings or when you want to express humility about your own abilities.
拙 or something close to it
笨 (bèn) - use 拙 (zhuō) when emphasizing a lack of finesse or skill in a more nuanced, humble way, whereas 笨 (bèn) is more straightforwardly about being stupid or foolish.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 拙 by using it in contexts where a more neutral term is appropriate. For instance, saying '这幅画太拙了' (This painting is too clumsy) might sound too harsh; a better choice could be '这幅画有点简单' (This painting is a bit simple).
Write 拙
拙
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Practice writing 拙 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 拙
拙 carries 8 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
亚历山德拉穿着那身过时的衣裳，显得臃肿笨____。
Alexandra looked plump and awkward in her cast-off clothing.
Example sentences for 拙 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
亚历山德拉穿着那身过时的衣裳，显得臃肿笨拙。
yà lì shān dé lā chuānzhuó nà shēn guòshí de yīshang， xiǎnde yōng zhǒng bènzhuō。
Alexandra looked plump and awkward in her cast-off clothing.
2
一群大象缓慢而笨拙地穿过平原，朝水潭走去。
yī qún dàxiàng huǎnmàn ér bènzhuō dì chuānguò píngyuán， cháo shuǐ tán zǒu qù。
A herd of elephants lolloped across the plains towards a watering hole.
3
他还在为别人批评他尽管最终胜出但表现笨拙感到闷闷不乐。
tā hái zài wèi biérén pīpíng tā jǐnguǎn zuìzhōng shèng chū dàn biǎoxiàn bènzhuō gǎndào mēn mēn bù lè。
He is still smarting over criticism of his victorious but clumsy performance.
4
他本想表现得风趣一点，却弄巧成拙地冒犯了别人。
tā běn xiǎng biǎoxiàn de fēngqù yīdiǎn， què nòng qiǎo chéng zhuō dì màofàn le biérén。
In a misguided attempt to be funny, he manages only offensiveness.
5
他又瘦又高，动作笨拙难看，因此有了“蜘蛛人”的外号。
tā yòu shòu yòu gāo， dòngzuò bènzhuō nánkàn， yīncǐ yǒu le“ zhī zhū rén” de wàihào。
His gangling, awkward gait has earned him the name Spiderman.
6
他是个个子高而笨拙的18岁小伙子。
tā shì gè gèzi gāo ér bènzhuō de18 suì xiǎohuǒzi。
He was a tall, ungainly boy of
7
《观察家报》认为这部剧“是大家熟悉的米勒式主题的拙劣翻版”。
《 guānchá jiā bào》 rènwéi zhè bù jù“ shì dàjiā shúxi de mǐ lè shì zhǔtí de zhuōliè fān bǎn”。
The Observer found the play "a feeble rehash of familiar Miller themes"
8
拙匠常怪工具差.
zhuō jiàng cháng guài gōngjù chà.
Bad workmen often blame their tools.
9
它步态蹒跚,吃饱了的身体更显得笨拙可笑.
tā bù tài pán shān, chī bǎo le de shēntǐ gèng xiǎnde bènzhuō kěxiào.
Its body looks heavy and clumsy when it has eaten its fill.
10
她被弄得感到笨拙无能。
tā bèi nòng de gǎndào bènzhuō wúnéng。
She was left feeling inept and inadequate.
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Word Family of 拙
Words containing this character20
笨拙bènzhuōclumsy
拙zhuōawkward
拙劣zhuōlièclumsy
弄巧成拙nòngqiǎochéngzhuōto overreach oneself
拙作zhuōzuòmy humble writing
拙政园zhuōzhèngyuánHumble Administrator's Garden in Suzhou, Jiangsu拙政園
拙著zhuōzhùmy worthless manuscript
拙见zhuōjiànmy unworthy opinion (humble expr.)拙見
稚拙zhìzhuōyoung and clumsy
拙朴zhuōpǔaustere拙樸
弄巧反拙nòngqiǎofǎnzhuōto overreach oneself
愚拙yúzhuōclumsy and stupid
拙笨zhuōbènclumsy
拙笔zhuōbǐmy humble pen拙筆
笨嘴拙舌bènzuǐzhuōshéclumsy in speech
拙稿zhuōgǎomy humble writing
拙于言词zhuōyúyáncíto be unable to express oneself clearly (idiom)拙於言詞
拙嘴笨舌zhuōzuǐbènshélit. clumsy mouth and broken tongue (idiom); awkward speaker
迂拙yūzhuōstupid
拙直zhuōzhísimple and frank
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 拙
What does 笨拙 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 拙
Use 拙 when you want to humbly describe your own lack of skill or when critiquing something that is awkward or clumsy.
While it can be used, it’s more common in formal contexts or in writing to convey modesty.
No, it can also describe verbal expressions or ideas that are perceived as dull or lacking elegance.
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