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灸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
灸jiǔto cauterize; moxibustionHSK 7, g, 7 strokes, radical 火, rank #68298, Very Hard
灸jiǔmoxibustion (TCM)HSK 7, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 火, rank #68298, Very Hard
jiǔ(jiu3)jiu T3
  1. 1to cauterize; moxibustion
  2. 2moxibustion (TCM)
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March 24, 2026

灸jiǔ(jiu3)

The character 灸 (jiǔ) refers to the practice of moxibustion, a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves burning the herb mugwort near or on acupuncture points to stimulate healing. It is often used to enhance the effects of acupuncture and is regarded as a method to promote circulation and alleviate pain.

Strokes7Radical火Frequency#68298DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Moxibustion, represented by 灸, has been practiced in China for thousands of years and is often used alongside acupuncture. It reflects the holistic approach in traditional Chinese medicine, emphasizing balance and the body's natural ability to heal.

Memory tip

Imagine a candle (the top part of 灸) used to burn mugwort (the lower part, representing the herb) to heal. The sound 'jiǔ' can remind you of 'jewels' that bring warmth, just as the heat from moxibustion brings healing.

Meanings of 灸

jiǔ(jiu3)
1to cauterize; moxibustion
2moxibustion (TCM)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 灸

灸Simplified
7Strokes
火Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 灸

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Podcast: 灸

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AI study notes for 灸

Usage Notes

In informal settings, 灸 can refer casually to the practice of moxibustion, but in formal contexts, it's important to use it in relation to traditional medicine. Be cautious with the tone; the third tone can easily be confused with other words like '久' (long time).

HSK Study Tips

Although 灸 is not included in the official HSK levels, it's relevant for learners interested in traditional Chinese medicine. Focus on its use in context, especially in health-related discussions, to enhance your vocabulary in this area.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 灸 with similar-sounding words like '久' (long time) due to tone mispronunciation. For example, saying 'jiu' in a flat tone instead of the third tone can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 灸

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Etymology of 灸

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

Phonosemantic compound. 火 represents the meaning and 久 represents the sound.

Memory hint

fire

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

Origin

灸 = 火 + 久. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 灸

IDS Structure⿱久火
灸Full character
=
久jiu3
top
火Huo3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 灸?

How to say to cauterize; moxibustion in Chinese

“to cauterize; moxibustion” in Chinese is灸jiǔ

The character 灸 (jiǔ) refers to the practice of moxibustion, a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves burning the herb mugwort near or on acupuncture points to stimulate healing. It is often used to enhance the effects of acupuncture and is regarded as a method to promote circulation and alleviate pain.

When to use 灸

In informal settings, 灸 can refer casually to the practice of moxibustion, but in formal contexts, it's important to use it in relation to traditional medicine. Be cautious with the tone; the third tone can easily be confused with other words like '久' (long time).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 灸 with similar-sounding words like '久' (long time) due to tone mispronunciation. For example, saying 'jiu' in a flat tone instead of the third tone can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 灸

灸

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

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Grammar patterns of 灸

灸 carries 2 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 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

她正在看一本关于针____疗法的新书.

She is reading a new work on acupuncture.

Example sentences for 灸 (1)

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1
她正在看一本关于针灸疗法的新书.

tā zhèngzài kàn yī běn guānyú zhēnjiǔ liáofǎ de xīn shū.

She is reading a new work on acupuncture.

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Word Family of 灸

Words containing this character2
针灸zhēnjiǔacupuncture and moxibustion針灸
灸jiǔmoxibustion (TCM)
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 灸

What does 针灸 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 灸

Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves burning mugwort to stimulate acupuncture points and promote healing.

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