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苎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
苎zhùChina grass, ramien, 7 strokes, radical 艹
苎zhùBoehmeria niveaunknown, 7 strokes, radical 艹
苎zhùChinese grassunknown, 7 strokes, radical 艹
zhù(zhu4) T4
  1. 1China grass, ramie
  2. 2Boehmeria nivea
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

苎(苧)zhù(zhu4)

苎 (zhù) refers to a type of plant known as ramie, which is a flowering plant in the nettle family. It is primarily used for its fiber, which is strong and resistant to mildew, making it valuable in textiles. In China, ramie has historical significance in traditional fabric production and is often associated with sustainable agriculture.

Strokes7Radical艹
Cultural Note

In ancient China, ramie was a key material for clothing and other textiles, showcasing the country's long history of textile craftsmanship. Today, it is still celebrated for its eco-friendly properties and is used in various sustainable fashion initiatives.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tall, lush plant swaying in the wind, its fibers weaving together like a beautiful tapestry. The character 苎 has a radical for 'plant' (艹) on top, suggesting its botanical nature, while the bottom suggests a sturdy base, like the strong fibers of ramie that hold everything together.

Meanings of 苎

zhù(zhu4)
1China grass, ramie
2Boehmeria nivea
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 苎

苎Simplified
苧Traditional
7Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 苎

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Podcast: 苎

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 苎

Usage Notes

苎 is a less common term and may not be familiar to all Mandarin speakers, thus it is typically used in formal or academic contexts related to botany or textiles. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; ensure you use the correct tone (zhù). It's often paired with words like '纤维' (xiānwéi, fiber) in discussions about textiles.

HSK Study Tips

苎 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, but it can be related to HSK Level 3-4 words about plants and textiles. Students should focus on the context in which plant names are used and the vocabulary surrounding textile production.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 苎 (zhù) with other plant-related terms. For example, saying '苎草' (zhùcǎo) incorrectly might suggest a different type of grass; the correct term is simply 苎 for ramie. Ensure proper usage to avoid confusion with other similar terms.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 苎

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Etymology of 苎

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

grass

Semantic (meaning)艹
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 苎

  1. 1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The giveawaygrass
  3. 3On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 苎? 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 苎?

Decomposition of 苎

IDS Structure⿱艹⿱宀一
苎Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
宀gai4
top
一yi1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 苎?

How to say China grass, ramie in Chinese

“China grass, ramie” in Chinese is苎zhù

苎 (zhù) refers to a type of plant known as ramie, which is a flowering plant in the nettle family. It is primarily used for its fiber, which is strong and resistant to mildew, making it valuable in textiles. In China, ramie has historical significance in traditional fabric production and is often associated with sustainable agriculture.

When to use 苎

苎 is a less common term and may not be familiar to all Mandarin speakers, thus it is typically used in formal or academic contexts related to botany or textiles. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; ensure you use the correct tone (zhù). It's often paired with words like '纤维' (xiānwéi, fiber) in discussions about textiles.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 苎 (zhù) with other plant-related terms. For example, saying '苎草' (zhùcǎo) incorrectly might suggest a different type of grass; the correct term is simply 苎 for ramie. Ensure proper usage to avoid confusion with other similar terms.

Write 苎

苎

Practice writing 苎 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 苎

Words Containing This Character2
苎麻bulrush苧麻
苎zhùBoehmeria nivea苧
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 苎麻 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 苎

苎 is primarily used for its fiber in textile production, known for its durability and resistance to mildew.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 苎?

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.