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茹 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
茹rúsurname Ruunknown, 9 strokes, radical 艹, rank #42337, Very Hard
茹rúroots, vegetablesnr, 9 strokes, radical 艹, rank #42337, Very Hard
茹rú(extended meaning) to endureunknown, 9 strokes, radical 艹, rank #42337, Very Hard
茹rúputrid smellunknown, 9 strokes, radical 艹, rank #42337, Very Hard
茹rúroots (inextricably attached to the plant)unknown, 9 strokes, radical 艹, rank #42337, Very Hard
rú(Ru2) T2
  1. 1surname Ru
  2. 2roots, vegetables
Also a Chinese surname, Ru — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

茹rú(Ru2)

The character 茹 (rú) primarily refers to roots or vegetables, often indicating edible plants. It can also be used as a surname and carries a nuanced meaning of endurance or the ability to tolerate unpleasant situations, akin to enduring a putrid smell. This character is commonly used in contexts relating to food, especially in discussions about vegetables or plant-based diets.

Strokes9Radical艹Frequency#42337DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese cuisine, vegetables are a fundamental part of the diet, and the character 茹 embodies the importance of roots and plants in Chinese culture. Many dishes highlight the natural flavors of vegetables, reflecting a cultural appreciation for fresh, wholesome ingredients.

Memory Tip

Imagine a root vegetable, like a carrot, growing deep in the soil, with the character 茹 representing its hidden strength beneath the earth. The 'r' in 'rú' sounds like 'root', while the 'u' can remind you of the underground, making it easier to remember this connection.

Meanings of 茹

rú(Ru2)
1roots, vegetables
2(extended meaning) to endure
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 茹

茹Simplified
9Strokes
艹Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 茹

JasonAmy

Podcast: 茹

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 茹

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 茹 with other similar-sounding characters, as the tone can change the meaning. This character is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly when discussing food. Common collocations include phrases related to cooking and nutrition.

HSK Study Tips

Although 茹 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be related to HSK Level 3 words that deal with food and nutrition. Students should focus on pronunciation and recognizing it in context, especially when reading recipes or discussing diets.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 茹 with other characters like 如 (rú, meaning 'as, like'). For example, using '如' when discussing vegetables would be incorrect; the proper character in that context is '茹'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 茹

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Etymology of 茹

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

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 如 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

plant

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 茹

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 如 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half如 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayplant
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 茹? 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 茹?

Decomposition of 茹

IDS Structure⿱艹如
茹Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
如ru2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 茹?

How to say surname Ru in Chinese

“surname Ru” in Chinese is茹rú

The character 茹 (rú) primarily refers to roots or vegetables, often indicating edible plants. It can also be used as a surname and carries a nuanced meaning of endurance or the ability to tolerate unpleasant situations, akin to enduring a putrid smell. This character is commonly used in contexts relating to food, especially in discussions about vegetables or plant-based diets.

When to use 茹

Be careful not to confuse 茹 with other similar-sounding characters, as the tone can change the meaning. This character is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly when discussing food. Common collocations include phrases related to cooking and nutrition.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 茹 with other characters like 如 (rú, meaning 'as, like'). For example, using '如' when discussing vegetables would be incorrect; the proper character in that context is '茹'.

Write 茹

茹

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 茹

茹 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 5 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 3

Complete the Sentence

索米尔周围的白垩质土壤出产著名的安____葡萄酒。

The chalky soil around Saumur produces the famous Anjou wines.

Example Sentences for 茹 (2)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
索米尔周围的白垩质土壤出产著名的安茹葡萄酒。

suǒ mǐ ěr zhōu wéi de bái è zhì tǔ rǎng chū chǎn zhù míng de ān rú pú táo jiǔ。

The chalky soil around Saumur produces the famous Anjou wines.
2
我猜她是德茹里一带的人.

wǒ cāi tā shì dé rú lǐ yī dài de rén.

I place her in Drury Lane.

Word Family of 茹

Words Containing This Character8
茹rúto eat
梁静茹Fish Leong (1978-), Malaysian pop singer梁靜茹
含辛茹苦to bear one's cross
茹毛饮血devour raw meat and fowl (of savages)茹毛飲血
竹茹bamboo shavings (Bambusa tuldoides) used in Chinese medicine
茹素to eat a vegetarian diet
茹苦含辛bitter hardship
茹古涵今to take in (old and new experiences and sorrows)
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 茹 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 茹

It refers to roots or vegetables, often in the context of edible plants.

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