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杼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
杼zhùscrub oak; long, narrow, thin; sewing shuttleg, 8 strokes, radical 木
杼zhùshuttle of a loomunknown, 8 strokes, radical 木
zhù(zhu4)zhu T4
  1. 1scrub oak; long, narrow, thin; sewing shuttle
  2. 2shuttle of a loom
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March 24, 2026

杼zhù(zhu4)

The character 杼 (zhù) primarily refers to a sewing shuttle or a loom shuttle, which is a tool used in weaving to carry the thread across the warp. It can also describe objects that are long, narrow, and thin, like certain types of wood or materials. In specific contexts, it can refer to scrub oak, emphasizing its shape and utility.

Strokes8Radical木
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese weaving, the shuttle is an essential tool, symbolizing craftsmanship and the importance of textiles in Chinese culture. Weaving is not only a practical skill but also an art form that has deep historical roots in China.

Memory Tip

Imagine a long, thin shuttle weaving threads together on a loom. The character 杼 looks like a person (the vertical line) holding a long tool (the horizontal lines) to connect different threads, symbolizing the act of weaving. Remember 'zhù' by visualizing this shuttle in action.

Meanings of 杼

zhù(zhu4)
1scrub oak; long, narrow, thin; sewing shuttle
2shuttle of a loom
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 杼

杼Simplified
8Strokes
木Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 杼

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Podcast: 杼

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AI Study Notes for 杼

Usage Notes

Be careful when using 杼 as it is often specific to weaving contexts or descriptions of shape. It is not commonly used in daily conversation, so make sure to use it in appropriate contexts like crafts or textile discussions. The tone is crucial; mispronouncing it with the wrong tone can lead to confusion with other characters.

HSK Study Tips

Although 杼 is not included in the standard HSK lists, it connects with vocabulary related to textiles and crafts, which can be beneficial for learners interested in these areas. Students should focus on recognizing the character's components and understanding its applications in specific contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 杼 with similar characters due to its specific usage. For example, using it in a general context like 'shuttle bus' is incorrect; the correct term would be '班车 (bānchē)'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 杼

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Etymology of 杼

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

tree

Semantic (meaning)木
+
Phonetic (sound)予
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

杼 = 木 + 予. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 杼

IDS Structure⿰木予
杼Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
予yu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 杼?

How to say scrub oak; long, narrow, thin; sewing shuttle in Chinese

“scrub oak; long, narrow, thin; sewing shuttle” in Chinese is杼zhù

The character 杼 (zhù) primarily refers to a sewing shuttle or a loom shuttle, which is a tool used in weaving to carry the thread across the warp. It can also describe objects that are long, narrow, and thin, like certain types of wood or materials. In specific contexts, it can refer to scrub oak, emphasizing its shape and utility.

When to use 杼

Be careful when using 杼 as it is often specific to weaving contexts or descriptions of shape. It is not commonly used in daily conversation, so make sure to use it in appropriate contexts like crafts or textile discussions. The tone is crucial; mispronouncing it with the wrong tone can lead to confusion with other characters.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 杼 with similar characters due to its specific usage. For example, using it in a general context like 'shuttle bus' is incorrect; the correct term would be '班车 (bānchē)'.

Write 杼

杼

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

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Word Family of 杼

Words Containing This Character2
杼zhùshuttle of a loom
机杼a loom機杼
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 杼

What does 机杼 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 杼

In modern contexts, 杼 typically refers to a sewing or loom shuttle used in textile making.

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