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March 24, 2026
蛊(蠱)gǔ(gu3)
The character 蛊 (gǔ) primarily refers to poison or venom, often associated with harmful substances or witchcraft. It can also denote the act of bewitching or causing someone to harm themselves through supernatural means. In historical contexts, it relates to legendary venomous insects and the concept of using poison for malevolent purposes.
Strokes11Radical虫Frequency#25142DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese folklore, the concept of 蛊 is often linked to witchcraft and the use of poison in traditional medicine or curses, reflecting deep-seated beliefs in the supernatural's ability to influence health and fortune.
Memory Tip
Picture a 'gū' (sounds like 'gǔ') with a venomous insect in one hand and a potion in the other, ready to cast a spell. The radical 虫 (insect) hints at the poisonous nature, while the sound can remind you of a ghastly 'goo' that one might associate with poison.
Meanings of 蛊
gǔ(gu3)
1poison, venom; to bewitch, to harm
2arch. legendary venomous insect
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About 蛊
蛊Simplified
蠱Traditional
11Strokes
虫Radical
成语chéngyǔidiom (id.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蛊
Podcast: 蛊
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AI Study Notes for 蛊
Memory Mnemonic
Picture a 'gū' (sounds like 'gǔ') with a venomous insect in one hand and a potion in the other, ready to cast a spell. The radical 虫 (insect) hints at the poisonous nature, while the sound can remind you of a ghastly 'goo' that one might associate with poison.
Usage Notes
While 蛊 can refer to poison in general, it is often used in more literary or historical contexts, so avoid casual usage in everyday conversation. Be mindful of the tone; the third tone (gǔ) can easily be confused with similar-sounding words. Collocations include phrases like 蛊惑 (bewitch) and 蛊毒 (poison).
HSK Study Tips
Although 蛊 is not included in the HSK levels, students should note its connections to other words related to poison (毒, dú) and witchcraft (巫, wū). Focus on recognizing its use in classical texts and understanding its implications in folklore.
Cultural Note
In Chinese folklore, the concept of 蛊 is often linked to witchcraft and the use of poison in traditional medicine or curses, reflecting deep-seated beliefs in the supernatural's ability to influence health and fortune.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蛊 with similar-sounding words like 鼓 (gǔ, drum) or 古 (gǔ, ancient). Ensure you practice the tone and context to differentiate them clearly. For example, saying '我喜欢蛊' (Wǒ xǐhuān gǔ) instead of '我喜欢古典音乐' (Wǒ xǐhuān gǔdiǎn yīnyuè) can lead to confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蛊
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Cultural Notes for 蛊
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese folklore, the concept of 蛊 is often linked to witchcraft and the use of poison in traditional medicine or curses, reflecting deep-seated beliefs in the supernatural's ability to influence health and fortune.
Word Family of 蛊
Words Containing This Character3
蛊gǔto poison蠱
蛊惑to poison蠱惑
蛊惑人心to resort to demagogy蠱惑人心
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 蛊 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 蛊
No, 蛊 is more frequently found in historical texts and folklore rather than in everyday language.
The correct pronunciation is gǔ, with the third tone, which can sometimes be confused with the second tone.
Generally, 蛊 carries negative connotations associated with harm and poison, so it is not used positively.
