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雠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
雠chóuenemy, rival, opponentg, 18 strokes, radical 隹
雠chóuto collateunknown, 18 strokes, radical 隹
雠chóuto proofreadunknown, 18 strokes, radical 隹
chóu(chou2) T2
  1. 1enemy, rival, opponent
  2. 2to collate
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

雠(讎)chóu(chou2)

The character 雠 (chóu) primarily means 'enemy' or 'rival,' often used in contexts discussing competition or opposition. Additionally, it can refer to the act of collating or proofreading, highlighting its use in literature and editing. This dual meaning showcases both a competitive aspect and a meticulous attention to detail in language.

Strokes18Radical隹
Cultural Note

The concept of rivalry is significant in Chinese culture, often seen in traditional games and academic competitions, where the spirit of competition drives individuals to excel. This character reflects the value placed on both competition and the precision of language.

Memory Tip

Imagine a fierce rival (enemy) standing on a pile of papers, diligently proofreading them. The character 雠 can be broken down into its components: the radical 雨 (rain) representing a stormy rivalry, and the lower part, which can be visualized as the act of looking closely at text, as if under a magnifying glass.

Meanings of 雠

chóu(chou2)
1enemy, rival, opponent
2to collate
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 雠

雠Simplified
讎Traditional
18Strokes
隹Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 雠

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Podcast: 雠

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AI Study Notes for 雠

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 雠 with 仇 (chóu), which also means 'enemy' but carries a more personal vendetta connotation. 雠 is more neutral and used in formal contexts like academic discussions. Be mindful of the tone, as mispronouncing it can change its meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

While 雠 is not included in the HSK levels, it provides a rich context for understanding vocabulary related to conflict and analysis. Students should focus on how it connects to words like 竞争 (jìngzhēng - competition) and 校对 (xiàoduì - proofreading) to enhance their vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse the pronunciation of 雠 with 仇, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我有一个雠' (wǒ yǒu yí gè chóu - I have an enemy) is incorrect; '我有一个仇' is more appropriate for personal enemies.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 雠

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Etymology of 雠

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Two birds 隹 exchanging angry words 讠; 雔 provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 雠

  1. 1The giveawayTwo birds 隹 exchanging angry words 讠; 雔 provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

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

Want the full history of 雠? 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 雠?

Decomposition of 雠

IDS Structure⿻雔讠
雠Full Character
=
雔chou2
outer
讠yan2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 雠?

How to say enemy, rival, opponent in Chinese

“enemy, rival, opponent” in Chinese is雠chóu

The character 雠 (chóu) primarily means 'enemy' or 'rival,' often used in contexts discussing competition or opposition. Additionally, it can refer to the act of collating or proofreading, highlighting its use in literature and editing. This dual meaning showcases both a competitive aspect and a meticulous attention to detail in language.

When to use 雠

Learners often confuse 雠 with 仇 (chóu), which also means 'enemy' but carries a more personal vendetta connotation. 雠 is more neutral and used in formal contexts like academic discussions. Be mindful of the tone, as mispronouncing it can change its meaning entirely.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse the pronunciation of 雠 with 仇, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我有一个雠' (wǒ yǒu yí gè chóu - I have an enemy) is incorrect; '我有一个仇' is more appropriate for personal enemies.

Write 雠

雠

Practice writing 雠 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 雠

Words Containing This Character1
雠chóuto collate讎
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 雠 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 雠

雠 (chóu) refers to a rival or opponent in a broader sense, while 仇 (chóu) implies a personal enmity or grudge.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 雠?

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.