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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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 菇
菇Simplified
11Strokes
艹Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 菇
Podcast: 菇
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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
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Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 姑 represents the sound.
1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
2The sound half姑 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayplant
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 菇? 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 菇?
Decomposition of 菇
IDS Structure⿱艹姑
菇Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
姑gu1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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
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Practice writing 菇 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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
Complete the Sentence
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 mó gū--1 --1 měi2 yuán5 2.
Sirloin steak with mushrooms -- one twenty - five. "
2
现在可以买到许许多多不同种类的蘑菇。
xiàn zài kě yǐ mǎi dào xǔ xǔ duō duō bù tóng zhǒng lèi de mó gū。
There are so many different sorts of mushrooms available these days.
