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芦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
芦
lú
rushes, reeds
n, 7 strokes, radical 艹, rank #30395, Very Hard
芦
lú
rush
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 艹, rank #30395, Very Hard
芦
lú
reed
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 艹, rank #30395, Very Hard
芦
lú
Phragmites communis
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 艹, rank #30395, Very Hard
lú(lu2)lu T2
1rushes, reeds
2rush
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March 24, 2026
芦(蘆)lú(lu2)
The character 芦 (lú) refers to a type of tall, slender plant typically found in wetlands, known as reeds or rushes. It is often associated with natural landscapes and can be used in various contexts, from describing wetlands to crafting traditional items like mats or roofs.
Strokes7Radical艹Frequency#30395DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, reeds (芦) have practical uses in traditional crafts and are often mentioned in poetry and literature as symbols of resilience and grace in nature.
Memory tip
Imagine a tall reed swaying gently in the wind, resembling the character '芦' with its vertical lines. The left part '艹' represents plants, while '鲁' can remind you of the sound 'lú' as you imagine a lush landscape filled with these green rushes.
Meanings of 芦
lú(lu2)
1rushes, reeds
2rush
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 芦
芦Simplified
蘆Traditional
7Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
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Podcast: 芦
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AI study notes for 芦
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse '芦' with similar-sounding characters. It is more commonly used in written Chinese than in casual conversation. Typical collocations include phrases describing natural settings or materials made from reeds.
HSK Study Tips
While '芦' is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary list, it can be useful for learners interested in nature or environmental themes. Focus on recognizing it in context, especially in written texts discussing flora.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '芦' with '炉' (lú), which means 'stove'. A common mistake is saying '炉边' (lúbiān) instead of '芦边' (lúbiān) when referring to a place near reeds. Always pay attention to the context when using these words.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 芦
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Example
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芦 = 艹 + 户. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 芦
IDS Structure⿱艹户
芦Full character
=
艹cao3
top
户hu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 芦?
How to say rushes, reeds in Chinese
“rushes, reeds” in Chinese is芦lú
The character 芦 (lú) refers to a type of tall, slender plant typically found in wetlands, known as reeds or rushes. It is often associated with natural landscapes and can be used in various contexts, from describing wetlands to crafting traditional items like mats or roofs.
When to use 芦
Be cautious not to confuse '芦' with similar-sounding characters. It is more commonly used in written Chinese than in casual conversation. Typical collocations include phrases describing natural settings or materials made from reeds.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '芦' with '炉' (lú), which means 'stove'. A common mistake is saying '炉边' (lúbiān) instead of '芦边' (lúbiān) when referring to a place near reeds. Always pay attention to the context when using these words.
Write 芦
芦
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Grammar patterns of 芦
芦 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
____荟可能对发炎以及轻微的皮肤炎症具有镇痛作用。
Aloe may have an analgesic effect on inflammation and minor skin irritations.
zhěng piàn hú dōu bèi mì mì céng céng de lú wěi wéi le qǐlái。
The whole lake was rimmed with thick beds of reeds.
6
手脚瘦得象芦柴棒一样, 于是大家就拿“芦柴棒”当了她的名字.
shǒujiǎo shòu de xiàng lú chái bàng yíyàng, yúshì dàjiā jiù ná“ lú chái bàng” dāng le tā de míngzi.
Because she is literally nothing but skin and bone, all call her Spindle - shanks.
7
村民们用葫芦盛水.
cūn mín men yòng hú lú chéng shuǐ.
The villagers use gourds for holding water.
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Word Family of 芦
Words containing this character20
葫芦hoist葫蘆
芦笋asparagus蘆筍
芦lúrush蘆
芦苇reed蘆葦
芦荟aloe vera蘆薈
葫芦岛Huludao prefecture-level city in Liaoning province 遼寧省|辽宁省 in northeast China葫蘆島
西葫芦zucchini西葫蘆
糖葫芦tanghulu糖葫蘆
芦笙reed-pipe wind instrument蘆笙
冰糖葫芦tanghulu冰糖葫蘆
葫芦岛市Huludao prefecture-level city in Liaoning province 遼寧省|辽宁省 in northeast China葫蘆島市
照葫芦画瓢fig. to copy slavishly照葫蘆畫瓢
芦根reed rhizome (used in TCM)蘆根
依样画葫芦lit. to draw a gourd from the model (idiom)依樣畫葫蘆
芦荻reeds蘆荻
闷葫芦fig. enigma悶葫蘆
芦沟桥Lugou Bridge or Marco Polo Bridge in southwest of Beijing, the scene of a conflict that marked the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War 抗日戰爭|抗日战争[KàngRìZhànzhēng]蘆溝橋
芦席reed mat蘆席
芦沟桥事变Marco Polo Bridge Incident of 7th July 1937, regarded as the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War 抗日戰爭|抗日战争[KàngRìZhànzhēng]蘆溝橋事變
芦山Lushan county in Ya'an 雅安[Yǎ'ān], Sichuan蘆山
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 芦
What does 葫芦 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 芦
You might encounter phrases like '芦苇荡' (lúwěidàng), meaning 'reed marsh', which highlight its natural habitat.
Yes, while not commonly used in idiomatic expressions, it can appear in poetic contexts relating to nature.
芦 is pronounced 'lú' with a rising tone. Make sure to practice the tone to differentiate it from other similar sounds.
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