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遒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
遒qiúrobust, strong; unyieldinga, 12 strokes, radical 辶
遒qiúvigorousunknown, 12 strokes, radical 辶
遒qiúto draw nearunknown, 12 strokes, radical 辶
遒qiúto come to an endunknown, 12 strokes, radical 辶
qiú(qiu2) T2
  1. 1robust, strong; unyielding
  2. 2vigorous
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

遒qiú(qiu2)

The character 遒 (qiú) conveys a sense of robustness and strength. It is often used to describe something that is strong, unyielding, or vigorous in nature. Commonly, it can also imply the idea of drawing near to an endpoint or conclusion.

Strokes12Radical辶
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, strength and resilience are highly valued traits, often reflected in literature, poetry, and art. The character 遒 embodies these ideals, making it relevant in discussions around perseverance and determination.

Memory Tip

Picture a sturdy, well-built bridge (the character's shape reminds one of a bridge) that is strong enough to withstand the fiercest storms. This bridge represents the strength and robustness denoted by 遒 (qiú), making it memorable that 'qiú' sounds like 'cue'—as if the bridge is giving you a cue to cross with confidence.

Meanings of 遒

qiú(qiu2)
1robust, strong; unyielding
2vigorous
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 遒

遒Simplified
12Strokes
辶Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 遒

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Podcast: 遒

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AI Study Notes for 遒

Usage Notes

Learners should be cautious about the tone, as 遒 is pronounced with a rising tone (qiú), which can easily be confused with the flat tone of other characters. It's more commonly used in literary or formal contexts, so it may not be appropriate for casual conversation. Phrases like '遒劲' (qiú jìng) meaning 'strong vigor' may often be seen.

HSK Study Tips

While 遒 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with HSK Level 5 words related to strength and vigor, such as 强 (qiáng, strong) and 劲 (jìn, force). Students should focus on recognizing its usage in literary texts and how it complements these other words.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 遒 with similar-sounding characters like 究 (jiū), which means 'to investigate.' A common mistake is to use it in casual conversation, where simpler terms like 强 (qiáng) are more appropriate. Always consider the context before using 遒.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 遒

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Etymology of 遒

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

walk

Semantic (meaning)辶
+
Phonetic (sound)酋
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 遒

  1. 1The meaning half辶 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half酋 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywalk
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 遒? 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 遒?

Decomposition of 遒

IDS Structure⿺辶酋
遒Full Character
=
辶chuo4
enclosing
酋qiu2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 遒?

How to say robust, strong; unyielding in Chinese

“robust, strong; unyielding” in Chinese is遒qiú

The character 遒 (qiú) conveys a sense of robustness and strength. It is often used to describe something that is strong, unyielding, or vigorous in nature. Commonly, it can also imply the idea of drawing near to an endpoint or conclusion.

When to use 遒

Learners should be cautious about the tone, as 遒 is pronounced with a rising tone (qiú), which can easily be confused with the flat tone of other characters. It's more commonly used in literary or formal contexts, so it may not be appropriate for casual conversation. Phrases like '遒劲' (qiú jìng) meaning 'strong vigor' may often be seen.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 遒 with similar-sounding characters like 究 (jiū), which means 'to investigate.' A common mistake is to use it in casual conversation, where simpler terms like 强 (qiáng) are more appropriate. Always consider the context before using 遒.

Write 遒

遒

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 遒

Words Containing This Character1
遒qiústrong
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 遒 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 遒

The correct pronunciation is with a rising tone: qiú.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 遒?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.