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March 24, 2026
驴(馿)lǘ(lv2)
The character 驴 (lǘ) refers to a donkey, a domesticated animal often used for transportation and labor in rural areas. It is commonly associated with hard work and stubbornness in Chinese culture, and can also be used metaphorically to describe someone who is obstinate or slow-witted.
Strokes7Radical马Frequency#7428DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In some regions of China, donkey meat is considered a delicacy, especially in places like Hebei province, where it is often served in traditional dishes, highlighting the cultural significance of this animal in local cuisine.
Memory Tip
Imagine a donkey (驴) who is stubbornly refusing to move, its ears flicking back as it stands still. The character looks like a horse (马) with an added component that signifies its uniqueness, emphasizing its role as a hardworking animal.
Meanings of 驴
lǘ(lv2)
primary
1donkey, ass
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 驴
驴Simplified
馿Traditional
7Strokes
马Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 驴
Podcast: 驴
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AI Study Notes for 驴
Usage Notes
When using 驴, be careful not to confuse it with 马 (mǎ), which means horse. The term is informal and is often used in daily conversation rather than in formal writing. Common collocations include 驴肉 (lǘròu - donkey meat), which is a delicacy in some regions.
HSK Study Tips
While 驴 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it can be related to HSK Level 2 vocabulary regarding animals. Students should focus on understanding animal-related words and their contexts to enhance their conversational skills.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 驴 with 驴, mispronouncing it as 'lu:2' instead of 'lǘ'. Another mistake is using it in formal contexts, where more neutral terms like 动物 (dòngwù - animal) might be preferred.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 驴
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Phonosemantic compound. 马 represents the meaning and 户 represents the sound. Simplified form of 驢.
1The meaning half马 carries the sense.
2The sound half户 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayhorse
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 驴? 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 驴?
Decomposition of 驴
IDS Structure⿰马户
驴Full Character
=
马Ma3
left
户hu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 驴?
How to say donkey, ass in Chinese
“donkey, ass” in Chinese is驴lǘ
The character 驴 (lǘ) refers to a donkey, a domesticated animal often used for transportation and labor in rural areas. It is commonly associated with hard work and stubbornness in Chinese culture, and can also be used metaphorically to describe someone who is obstinate or slow-witted.
When to use 驴
When using 驴, be careful not to confuse it with 马 (mǎ), which means horse. The term is informal and is often used in daily conversation rather than in formal writing. Common collocations include 驴肉 (lǘròu - donkey meat), which is a delicacy in some regions.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 驴 with 驴, mispronouncing it as 'lu:2' instead of 'lǘ'. Another mistake is using it in formal contexts, where more neutral terms like 动物 (dòngwù - animal) might be preferred.
Write 驴
驴
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Practice writing 驴 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 驴
驴 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
