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臌 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
臌gǔswelling, edema; puffy, bloatedn, 17 strokes, radical ⺼
臌gǔdropsicalunknown, 17 strokes, radical ⺼
臌gǔswollenunknown, 17 strokes, radical ⺼
gǔ(gu3)gu T3
  1. 1swelling, edema; puffy, bloated
  2. 2dropsical
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March 24, 2026

臌gǔ(gu3)

The character 臌 (gǔ) refers to a condition characterized by swelling or edema in the body. It is often used in medical contexts to describe puffy or bloated areas, particularly when related to dropsy or fluid retention. This term may not be commonly used in everyday conversation but is relevant in health-related discussions.

Strokes17Radical⺼
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese medicine, swelling and edema are often linked to imbalances in the body's fluids, reflecting a holistic understanding of health that emphasizes balance and harmony. This concept is integral to many health practices in China.

Memory tip

Imagine a balloon (representing the character 臌) that is overfilled with air, making it puffy and swollen. The top part of the character resembles the balloon's shape, while the bottom part can remind you of fluid accumulating, thus linking to the meaning of swelling and bloating.

Meanings of 臌

gǔ(gu3)
1swelling, edema; puffy, bloated
2dropsical
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 臌

臌Simplified
17Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 臌

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AI study notes for 臌

Usage Notes

When using 臌, ensure that you are in appropriate medical or formal contexts, as it may sound too technical in everyday speech. Common collocations include phrases like '肢体臌胀' (limb swelling). Be cautious with the tone; mispronouncing the tone could lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 臌 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to related medical terms that may appear in higher-level studies. Focus on understanding its usage in health contexts, which can be beneficial for learners interested in medical Chinese vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 臌 with similar-sounding words like 鼓 (gǔ), which means 'drum' or 'to beat,' leading to incorrect usage. Always remember that 臌 relates specifically to the concept of swelling.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 臌

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Etymology of 臌

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

flesh

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

Origin

臌 = ⺼ + 鼓. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 臌

IDS Structure⿰⺼鼓
臌Full character
=
⺼rou4
left
鼓gu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 臌?

How to say swelling, edema; puffy, bloated in Chinese

“swelling, edema; puffy, bloated” in Chinese is臌gǔ

The character 臌 (gǔ) refers to a condition characterized by swelling or edema in the body. It is often used in medical contexts to describe puffy or bloated areas, particularly when related to dropsy or fluid retention. This term may not be commonly used in everyday conversation but is relevant in health-related discussions.

When to use 臌

When using 臌, ensure that you are in appropriate medical or formal contexts, as it may sound too technical in everyday speech. Common collocations include phrases like '肢体臌胀' (limb swelling). Be cautious with the tone; mispronouncing the tone could lead to confusion with other words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 臌 with similar-sounding words like 鼓 (gǔ), which means 'drum' or 'to beat,' leading to incorrect usage. Always remember that 臌 relates specifically to the concept of swelling.

Write 臌

臌

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

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Word Family of 臌

Words containing this character1
臌gǔdropsical

Frequently asked questions about 臌

臌 specifically refers to swelling due to fluid retention or edema, while other terms may describe general swelling without the medical context.

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