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躯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
the human bodyn, 11 strokes, radical 身, rank #17438, Hard
human bodyunknown, 11 strokes, radical 身, rank #17438, Hard
(qu1) T1
  1. 1the human body
  2. 2human body
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(軀)(qu1)

The character 躯 (qū) refers specifically to the human body, often emphasizing physicality or corporeal aspects. It is commonly used in formal or literary contexts, such as discussions about health, anatomy, or the physical presence of a person, distinguishing it from more casual terms for 'body.'

Strokes11RadicalFrequency#17438DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of the body (躯) is central to understanding health and balance, highlighting the significance placed on the physical form in relation to overall well-being and harmony.

Memory Tip

Imagine a figure (the radical '身' - body) standing upright, representing the human body. The 'qū' sounds like 'queue,' where people line up to enter a body of knowledge, reflecting the importance of the human form in learning.

Meanings of 躯

(qu1)
1the human body
2human body
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 躯

Simplified
Traditional
11Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 躯

JasonAmy

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AI Study Notes for 躯

Quick Contrast

躯 (qū) vs 身体 (shēntǐ) — use 躯 for formal or literary contexts emphasizing the physicality of the human body, while 身体 is more casual and commonly used in everyday conversation.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a figure (the radical '身' - body) standing upright, representing the human body. The 'qū' sounds like 'queue,' where people line up to enter a body of knowledge, reflecting the importance of the human form in learning.

Usage Notes

Avoid confusing 躯 with other more casual terms for 'body' like 身体 (shēntǐ), which is more commonly used in everyday speech. This character is more formal and may not be well understood in informal conversations. Be mindful of using it in appropriate contexts.

HSK Study Tips

Although 躯 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with HSK Level 5 words related to health and well-being, such as 身体 (shēntǐ) and 健康 (jiànkāng). Students should focus on the nuances of formality and context when using this term.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of the body (躯) is central to understanding health and balance, highlighting the significance placed on the physical form in relation to overall well-being and harmony.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 躯 with 身体, mistakenly using 躯 in casual contexts. For example, saying '我今天感觉很躯' (I feel very body today) is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我今天感觉很身体' which should actually be '我今天感觉很好' (I feel very good).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 躯

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Etymology of 躯

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

Phonosemantic compound. 身 represents the meaning and 区 represents the sound. Simplified form of 軀.

Memory Hint

body

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 躯?

Decomposition of 躯

IDS Structure⿰身区
Full Character
=
shen1
left
Ou1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 躯?

Write 躯

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

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Grammar Patterns of 躯

躯 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 2 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 4

Complete the Sentence

她用薄薄的黑色织物裹住了自己硕大的身____。

She swathed her enormous body in thin black fabrics.

Example Sentences for 躯 (6)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
她用薄薄的黑色织物裹住了自己硕大的身躯。

tā yòng báo báo de hēi sè zhī wù guǒ zhù le zì jǐ shuò dà de shēn qū。

She swathed her enormous body in thin black fabrics.
2
他的双腿和他庞大身躯的其他部分相比瘦得可怜。

tā de shuāng tuǐ hé tā páng dà shēn qū de qí tā bù fēn xiāng bǐ shòu dé kě lián。

His legs were pitifully thin compared to the rest of his bulk.
3
他把自己骇人的庞大身躯向桌子挪近了些。

tā bǎ zì jǐ hài rén de páng dà shēn qū xiàng zhuō zǐ nuó jìn le xiē。

He moved his menacing bulk closer to the table.
4
七十五岁了,他的身躯还是挺直的.

qī shí wǔ suì le, , tā de shēn qū huán shì tǐng zhí.

At 75 he is still erect.
5
在她躯干的前方, 宛如一朵玫瑰缀在长长的枝条上.

zài tā qū gān de qián fāng, , wǎn rú yī duǒ méi guī zhuì zài cháng cháng de zhī tiáo.

Straight ahead of her, as though it were a rose on a stem.
6
他躯干粗壮, 但腿却很瘦.

tā qū gān cū zhuàng, , dàn tuǐ què hěn.

He has a strong body, but rather thin legs.

Cultural Notes for 躯

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of the body (躯) is central to understanding health and balance, highlighting the significance placed on the physical form in relation to overall well-being and harmony.

Word Family of 躯

Words Containing This Character6
躯体body軀體
身躯shēnqūbody身軀
human body
躯干trunk軀幹
躯壳the body (housing the soul)軀殼
捐躯to sacrifice one's life捐軀
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 躯体 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 躯

No, 躯 is more formal and is typically found in literary or academic contexts.