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蔻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蔻kòunutmeg, cardamomx, 14 strokes, radical 艹
kòu(kou4)kou T4
  1. 1nutmeg, cardamom
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March 24, 2026

蔻kòu(kou4)

The character 蔻 (kòu) refers to spices such as nutmeg and cardamom, which are commonly used in cooking and traditional medicine. It is often associated with flavor enhancement in various cuisines, particularly in Asian cooking. This character is less frequently used on its own and is often found in compound words.

Strokes14Radical艹
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, spices like cardamom and nutmeg are often used in traditional medicine and culinary practices, highlighting the importance of flavor and health. The use of these spices can be traced back to ancient trade routes, reflecting cultural exchanges.

Memory Tip

Imagine a cozy kitchen filled with the rich aroma of spices. The character 蔻 has a 'flower' radical (艹) on top, symbolizing the plant origin of these spices, and the bottom resembles a 'mouth' (口), suggesting the delicious flavors that spices bring to food. Think of a chef calling out for cardamom to spice up a dish.

Meanings of 蔻

kòu(kou4)
1nutmeg, cardamom
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 蔻 means.

About 蔻

蔻Simplified
14Strokes
艹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蔻

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Podcast: 蔻

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AI Study Notes for 蔻

Usage Notes

Be aware that 蔻 is not commonly used in everyday conversation; it is more likely to appear in culinary contexts or specific discussions about spices. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words; always verify the context to ensure proper usage. The tone is crucial; make sure to pronounce it with the fourth tone (kòu).

HSK Study Tips

While 蔻 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it can be useful for learners at HSK Level 3 or 4 when discussing food and cooking. Students should focus on recognizing it in compound words and understanding its role in culinary conversations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 蔻 interchangeably with spices that have different characters, such as 胡椒 (hújiāo - pepper). It's important to remember that 蔻 specifically refers to cardamom and nutmeg.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蔻

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Etymology of 蔻

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

herb

Semantic (meaning)艹
+
Phonetic (sound)寇
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

蔻 = 艹 + 寇. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 蔻

IDS Structure⿱艹寇
蔻Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
寇kou4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蔻?

How to say nutmeg, cardamom in Chinese

“nutmeg, cardamom” in Chinese is蔻kòu

The character 蔻 (kòu) refers to spices such as nutmeg and cardamom, which are commonly used in cooking and traditional medicine. It is often associated with flavor enhancement in various cuisines, particularly in Asian cooking. This character is less frequently used on its own and is often found in compound words.

When to use 蔻

Be aware that 蔻 is not commonly used in everyday conversation; it is more likely to appear in culinary contexts or specific discussions about spices. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words; always verify the context to ensure proper usage. The tone is crucial; make sure to pronounce it with the fourth tone (kòu).

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 蔻 interchangeably with spices that have different characters, such as 胡椒 (hújiāo - pepper). It's important to remember that 蔻 specifically refers to cardamom and nutmeg.

Write 蔻

蔻

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

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Grammar Patterns of 蔻

蔻 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

肉豆____、西芹和苹果酒都能很好地突出这些豆子的味道。

Nutmeg, parsley and cider all complement the flavour of these beans well.

Example Sentences for 蔻 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
肉豆蔻、西芹和苹果酒都能很好地突出这些豆子的味道。

ròu dòu kòu、 、 xī qín hé píng guǒ jiǔ dū néng hěn hǎo dì tū chū zhè xiē dòu zǐ de wèi。

Nutmeg, parsley and cider all complement the flavour of these beans well.

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Word Family of 蔻

Words Containing This Character5
蔻kòusee 肉豆蔻 nutmeg, 豆蔻 cardamon
肉豆蔻mace
豆蔻maidenhood
豆蔻年华a budding beauty豆蔻年華
蔻丹nail polish (loanword, from "Cutex")
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 蔻

What does 肉豆蔻 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蔻

You can say '我喜欢在咖啡里加肉豆蔻和豆蔻' (I like to add nutmeg and cardamom to my coffee).

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