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辜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
辜Gūsurname Gunr, 12 strokes, radical 辛, Medium
辜Gūcrimenr, 12 strokes, radical 辛, Medium
辜Gūsinnr, 12 strokes, radical 辛, Medium
辜Gūcrime, offense, sinnr, 12 strokes, radical 辛, Medium
Gū(Gu1)gu T1
  1. 1surname Gu
  2. 2crime
Also a Chinese surname, Gu — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

辜Gū(Gu1)

The character 辜 (gū) primarily represents a surname, Gu, in Chinese. It also conveys meanings associated with crime or sin, often used in legal or moral contexts. This character can express the idea of wrongdoing or an offense against moral or social norms.

Strokes12Radical辛Frequency#1556DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of sin is tied to Confucian values where personal conduct and societal harmony are paramount. The character 辜 can evoke discussions about moral failures and the importance of rectitude.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'sinful' person carrying a large 'G' (for Gu) on their back, symbolizing the weight of their crimes. The radical 辶 (walking) suggests movement away from righteousness, reinforcing the idea of straying into sin.

Meanings of 辜

Gū(Gu1)
1crime
2sin
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 辜

辜Simplified
12Strokes
辛Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 辜

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Podcast: 辜

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AI Study Notes for 辜

Usage Notes

While 辜 is primarily a surname, it is important to use it correctly in context, particularly when discussing moral or legal issues. Common collocations may include phrases related to crime or sin, such as '犯辜' (commit a sin). Be cautious of tone mistakes, as the pronunciation can be confused with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

As this character is not included in HSK levels, focus on its meaning in relation to moral discussions and understand its use as a surname. Connect it with other characters related to morality or law at this level, such as 罪 (zuì - crime).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 辜 with other similar characters like 罪 (zuì - crime). For example, saying '我犯了辜' (wǒ fànle gū) instead of '我犯了罪' (wǒ fànle zuì) to imply committing a crime is incorrect. Always ensure to use the character in the right context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 辜

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Etymology of 辜

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

Phonosemantic compound. 辛 represents the meaning and 古 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

bitter

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

Origin

辜 = 辛 + 古. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 辜

IDS Structure⿱古辛
辜Full Character
=
古Gu3
top
辛Xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 辜?

How to say surname Gu in Chinese

“surname Gu” in Chinese is辜Gū

The character 辜 (gū) primarily represents a surname, Gu, in Chinese. It also conveys meanings associated with crime or sin, often used in legal or moral contexts. This character can express the idea of wrongdoing or an offense against moral or social norms.

When to use 辜

While 辜 is primarily a surname, it is important to use it correctly in context, particularly when discussing moral or legal issues. Common collocations may include phrases related to crime or sin, such as '犯辜' (commit a sin). Be cautious of tone mistakes, as the pronunciation can be confused with other similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 辜 with other similar characters like 罪 (zuì - crime). For example, saying '我犯了辜' (wǒ fànle gū) instead of '我犯了罪' (wǒ fànle zuì) to imply committing a crime is incorrect. Always ensure to use the character in the right context.

Write 辜

辜

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

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Grammar Patterns of 辜

辜 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 4 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

Fill the gap

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

科尔曼坚称他是无____的。

Coleman has never wavered in his claim that he is innocent.

Example Sentences for 辜 (5)

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1
科尔曼坚称他是无辜的。

kē ěr màn jiān chēng tā shì wú gū de。

Coleman has never wavered in his claim that he is innocent.
2
他说滥杀无辜是不可原谅的。

tā shuō làn shā wú gū shì bù kě yuán liàng de。

He said the killing of innocent people was inexcusable.
3
对峙双方都只是在瞄准射击无辜的旁观者。

duì zhì shuāng fāng dū zhī shì zài miáo zhǔn shè jī wú gū de páng guān zhě。

Both groups on either side are just picking off innocent bystanders.
4
数百名无辜平民遭残杀.

shù bǎi míng wú gū píng mín zāo cán shā.

Hundreds of innocent civilians were cruelly slaughtered.
5
克里平坚称自己是无辜的。

kè lǐ píng jiān chēng zì jǐ shì wú gū de。

Crippen insisted on his innocence.

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Cultural Notes for 辜

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, discussions of sin might center around religious contexts, while in Chinese, it often intersects with social harmony and personal responsibility.

Word Family of 辜

Compounds1
嫴
Words Containing This Character6
无辜wúgūinnocent無辜
辜负gūfùto let down辜負
辜Gūcrime
辜振甫Koo Chen-fu (1917-2005), Taiwanese businessman and diplomat
死有余辜death cannot wipe out the crimes (idiom); dreadful crimes that rankled even after the perpetrator is dead死有餘辜
辜鸿铭Ku Hung-ming or Gu Hongming (1857-1928), Malaysian man of letters, highly regarded for his literary works written mostly in English, and known for his monarchist views辜鴻銘
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 辜

What does 无辜 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 辜

In a legal context, 辜 refers to an offense or crime, emphasizing moral wrongdoing.

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