Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
菇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
菇
gū
mushroom
ng, 11 strokes, radical 艹, rank #33038, Very Hard
gū(gu1)gu T1
1mushroom
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
菇gū(gu1)
菇 (gū) refers specifically to mushrooms, a type of fungus commonly found in various cuisines around the world. In Chinese culture, mushrooms are not only a food source but also have medicinal properties and are often included in traditional dishes. The word is frequently used in culinary contexts, especially when discussing various types of edible fungi.
Strokes11Radical艹Frequency#33038DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese cuisine, mushrooms like shiitake (香菇) and enoki (金针菇) are staples, often adding umami flavor to soups and stir-fries. They are also featured in traditional Chinese medicine for their health benefits.
Memory tip
Imagine a little 'guy' (gū sounds like 'guy') who loves to gather mushrooms in the forest. The character 菇 has a radical for 'plant' (艹) at the top, which connects to its meaning as a type of fungus, growing from the ground like plants do.
Meanings of 菇
gū(gu1)
1mushroom
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 菇 means.
About 菇
菇Simplified
11Strokes
艹Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 菇
Podcast: 菇
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 菇
Quick Contrast
香菇 (xiāng gū) vs. 平菇 (píng gū) — use 香菇 when referring to shiitake mushrooms specifically, while 平菇 refers to oyster mushrooms.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone; 'gū' is a first tone, which is high and level, unlike the more common 'gu' sounds in different tones. Common collocations include '香菇' (xiānggū - shiitake mushroom) and '蘑菇' (mógū - general term for mushroom). Avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 菇 is not officially part of the HSK vocabulary list, it can be helpful for learners at HSK 3 and above who are focusing on food-related vocabulary. Understand the context in which 菇 is used within culinary discussions to enhance comprehension.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 菇 with similar-sounding words. For example, using 'gu' (2nd tone) instead of 'gū' (1st tone) can change the meaning. Remember to practice the correct tone to avoid misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 菇
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 菇 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 菇 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.
How well do you know 菇?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 菇 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
菇 = 艹 + 姑. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 菇
IDS Structure⿱艹姑
菇Full character
=
艹cao3
top
姑gu1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 菇?
How to say mushroom in Chinese
“mushroom” in Chinese is菇gū
菇 (gū) refers specifically to mushrooms, a type of fungus commonly found in various cuisines around the world. In Chinese culture, mushrooms are not only a food source but also have medicinal properties and are often included in traditional dishes. The word is frequently used in culinary contexts, especially when discussing various types of edible fungi.
When to use 菇
Be mindful of the tone; 'gū' is a first tone, which is high and level, unlike the more common 'gu' sounds in different tones. Common collocations include '香菇' (xiānggū - shiitake mushroom) and '蘑菇' (mógū - general term for mushroom). Avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.
菇 or something close to it
香菇 (xiāng gū) vs. 平菇 (píng gū) — use 香菇 when referring to shiitake mushrooms specifically, while 平菇 refers to oyster mushrooms.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 菇 with similar-sounding words. For example, using 'gu' (2nd tone) instead of 'gū' (1st tone) can change the meaning. Remember to practice the correct tone to avoid misunderstandings.
Write 菇
菇
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 菇 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 菇
菇 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
嫩牛排配蘑____ --1 美元2角5分.
Sirloin steak with mushrooms -- one twenty - five. "
Example sentences for 菇 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
嫩牛排配蘑菇 --1 美元2角5分.
nèn niú pái pèi mógu --1 měiyuán2 jiǎo5 fēn.
Sirloin steak with mushrooms -- one twenty - five. "
