Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
郭guō(Guo1)
The character 郭 (guō) primarily refers to a city wall or a boundary surrounding a city, often used in the context of historical cities. Additionally, it is a common Chinese surname, making it significant in personal names and family lineage discussions.
Strokes10Radical阝Frequency#17947DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The surname 郭 is associated with notable historical figures in Chinese history, such as Guo Moruo, a prominent writer and historian, showcasing its cultural significance in literature and academia.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large, protective wall (the radical ‘阝’ represents a hill or mound) surrounding a city, keeping everything inside safe. The pronunciation ‘guō’ sounds like 'gwoah', as if you're gasping in awe at the size of the city limits.
Meanings of 郭
guō(Guo1)
1city limits; surname
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 郭
郭Simplified
10Strokes
阝Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 郭
Podcast: 郭
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 郭
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large, protective wall (the radical ‘阝’ represents a hill or mound) surrounding a city, keeping everything inside safe. The pronunciation ‘guō’ sounds like 'gwoah', as if you're gasping in awe at the size of the city limits.
Usage Notes
It's important to distinguish between the character's use as a surname and its geographical meaning. In informal contexts, people may simply use 'Guo' when referring to someone with that surname without needing to elaborate.
HSK Study Tips
While 郭 is not on the HSK list, it can be useful for learners interested in surnames or historical contexts. Students should focus on the character's structure and pronunciation while also learning related terms like 城 (chéng, city) to enhance their vocabulary.
Cultural Note
The surname 郭 is associated with notable historical figures in Chinese history, such as Guo Moruo, a prominent writer and historian, showcasing its cultural significance in literature and academia.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 郭 with similar-sounding characters such as 国 (guó, meaning country). For example, saying ‘郭国’ instead of ‘国’ to mean 'country' is incorrect; use ‘国’ for that context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 郭
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 郭 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 郭 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 郭
郭 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
他对克尔恺____尔与叔本华的深刻了解让我很吃惊。
He surprised me with his intimate knowledge of Kierkegaard and Schopenhauer.
Example Sentences for 郭 (5)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他对克尔恺郭尔与叔本华的深刻了解让我很吃惊。
tā duì kè ěr kǎi guō ěr yǔ shū běn huá de shēn kè le jiě ràng wǒ hěn chī jīng。
He surprised me with his intimate knowledge of Kierkegaard and Schopenhauer.
2
坚强 、 自信 、有气魄的郭振山,实在说,永远也不会向人低三下四啊!
jiān qiáng、 、 zì、 xìn 、 yǒu qì pò de guō, zhèn shān ,, shí zài shuō , yǒng yuǎn yě bù huì xiàng rén dī!
Stubborn, self - confident Guo Zhenshan has never gone crawling to anyone.
Paul M. Churchland and Clifford A. Hooker , Images of Science, the University of Chicago Press, 1985, pp .245～
4
他眼珠子咄咄逼人地盯住郭世富, 企图逼他屈服.
tā yǎn zhū zǐ duō duō bī rén dì dīng zhù guō shì fù, , qǐ tú bī tā qū.
He looked at Guo Shifu compellingly . He wanted to force him to submit.
5
吴敏霞和搭档郭晶晶赢得了3米板的冠军.
wú mǐn xiá hé dā dàng guō jīng jīng yíng dé le3 3 mǐ bǎn de guān.
Wu Minxia and her partner, Guo Jingjing, won the 3 - meter springboard competition.
Cultural Notes for 郭
🏮Cultural insight
The surname 郭 is associated with notable historical figures in Chinese history, such as Guo Moruo, a prominent writer and historian, showcasing its cultural significance in literature and academia.
Word Family of 郭
Words Containing This Character18
郭guōsurname Guo
郭晶晶Guo Jingjing (1981-), Chinese female diver and Olympic gold medalist
郭敬明Guo Jingming (1983-), Chinese young-adult fiction writer and teen pop idol
郭沫若Guo Moruo (1892-1978), writer, communist party intellectual and cultural apparatchik
郭台铭Guo "Terry" Taiming (1950-), prominent Taiwanese businessman, founder of Foxconn郭台銘
城郭a city wall
锡林郭勒盟Xilin Gol league, a prefecture level subdivision of Inner Mongolia錫林郭勒盟
锡林郭勒Xilin Gol league, a prefecture level subdivision of Inner Mongolia錫林郭勒
郭小川Guo Xiaochuan (1919-1976), PRC communist poet, hero in the war with Japan, died after long persecution during Cultural Revolution
东郭two-character surname Dongguo東郭
巴音郭楞蒙古自治州Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang
前郭县Qian Gorlos Mongol autonomous county in Songyuan 松原, Jilin前郭縣
郭永怀Guo Yonghuai (1909-1968), Chinese aviation pioneer郭永懷
郭泉Guo Quan, formerly Professor of Nanjing Normal University, sacked after founding New People's Party of China 中國新民黨|中国新民党
前郭尔罗斯蒙古族自治县Qian Gorlos Mongol autonomous county in Songyuan 松原, Jilin前郭爾羅斯蒙古族自治縣
霍林郭勒市Huolin Gol county level city in Tongliao 通遼|通辽[Tōngliáo], Inner Mongolia
外郭城outer city wall
郭茂倩Guo Maoqian (11th century), Song dynasty editor of the Collection of Yuefu Songs and Ballads 樂府詩集|乐府诗集[YuèfǔShījí]
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 郭 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 郭
As a surname, 郭 represents a family name that may have historical or regional significance, often indicating lineage.
The character 郭 is written with the radical for a mound or hill, which you can practice by breaking it down into its components.
Yes, 郭 is a relatively common surname in China, ranking among the top surnames.
