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樞 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
樞shūdoor hinge; pivot; center of powerx, 15 strokes, radical 木
shū(shu1) T1
  1. 1door hinge; pivot; center of power
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

樞shū(shu1)

The character 樞 (shū) primarily refers to a door hinge, symbolizing a pivotal point around which something rotates or turns. It can also denote the center of power or authority in a more abstract sense, often used in contexts related to governance and control.

Strokes15Radical木
Cultural Note

In Chinese history, the term 樞 is often associated with the '樞密院' (Shūmìyuàn), an important governmental body during imperial times, reflecting its significance in power dynamics.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large, ancient door with a giant hinge (樞) at its center, allowing the door to swing open and shut. The character resembles a door with a pivotal point (the hinge) that moves around, emphasizing its role as a crucial turning point.

Meanings of 樞

shū(shu1)
1door hinge; pivot; center of power
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 樞

樞Simplified
15Strokes
木Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 樞

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Podcast: 樞

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 樞

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context in which you use 樞, as it can imply both physical and metaphorical pivots. It's more formal and typically used in written Chinese, especially in discussions of structure or authority.

HSK Study Tips

Although 樞 is not on the HSK list, it's relevant for HSK level 4 and above learners who are expanding their vocabulary related to governance and structural concepts. Focus on how it relates to other words about power and organization.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 樞 with similar characters like 核 (hé - core) due to the abstract meanings. For instance, saying '这个法案是国家的核心' (This bill is the core of the state) is incorrect when specifically discussing pivotal actions, which would be better expressed with 樞.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 樞

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Etymology of 樞

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

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 区 represents the sound. Simplified form of 樞.

Memory Hint

tree

Semantic (meaning)木
+
Phonetic (sound)區
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 樞

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 区 represents the sound. Simplified form of 樞.

  1. 1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half區 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaytree
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 樞? 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 樞?

Decomposition of 樞

IDS Structure⿰木區
樞Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
區qu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 樞?

How to say door hinge; pivot; center of power in Chinese

“door hinge; pivot; center of power” in Chinese is樞shū

The character 樞 (shū) primarily refers to a door hinge, symbolizing a pivotal point around which something rotates or turns. It can also denote the center of power or authority in a more abstract sense, often used in contexts related to governance and control.

When to use 樞

Be mindful of the context in which you use 樞, as it can imply both physical and metaphorical pivots. It's more formal and typically used in written Chinese, especially in discussions of structure or authority.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 樞 with similar characters like 核 (hé - core) due to the abstract meanings. For instance, saying '这个法案是国家的核心' (This bill is the core of the state) is incorrect when specifically discussing pivotal actions, which would be better expressed with 樞.

Write 樞

樞

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 樞

Words Containing This Character8
中枢center中樞
枢纽shūniǔhinge樞紐
枢shūhinge樞
枢密院privy council樞密院
枢机cardinal (Catholicism)樞機
枢轴pivot樞軸
户枢不蠹lit. a door hinge never becomes worm-eaten戶樞不蠹
要枢key crossroad要樞
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 中枢 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 樞

You might say '这个政策是国家的樞纽' (This policy is the pivot of the state).

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 樞?

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.