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麴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
麴qūsurname Quunknown, 19 strokes, radical 麦, rank #69508, Very Hard
麴qūyeast; to leaven; surnamenr, 19 strokes, radical 麦, rank #69508, Very Hard
qū(Qu1)qu T1
  1. 1surname Qu
  2. 2yeast; to leaven; surname
Also a Chinese surname, Qu — see the Surname Dictionary
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March 24, 2026

麴qū(Qu1)

The character 麴 (qū) refers primarily to yeast, which is a type of fungus used in fermentation to leaven bread and brew alcohol. It can also represent the process of leavening in food preparation. Additionally, 麴 is a less common surname in Chinese culture.

Strokes19Radical麦Frequency#69508DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese brewing, 麴 is essential for making alcoholic beverages like rice wine. The use of yeast in Chinese cuisine reflects the importance of fermentation in various culinary practices.

Memory tip

Imagine a baker (whose name is Qu) who uses a special magic yeast (麴) to make the fluffiest bread. The character 麴 has a 'grain' radical (禾) at the bottom, which connects to food, and the 'qu' sound can remind you of 'quenching' hunger with delicious bread.

Meanings of 麴

qū(Qu1)
1yeast; to leaven; surname
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 麴

麴Simplified
19Strokes
麦Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 麴

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Podcast: 麴

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AI study notes for 麴

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the pronunciation of this character, as it is often confused with similar-sounding words. It's more commonly used in formal contexts related to cooking or brewing rather than in casual conversations. Common collocations include phrases related to fermentation or baking.

HSK Study Tips

While 麴 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance knowledge of food-related terms. Students should focus on connecting it with other food and cooking terms in their studies, particularly those involving fermentation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 麴 (qū) with other similar characters like 曲 (qū), which means 'bend'. Be sure to remember that 麴 specifically relates to yeast and fermentation, while 曲 relates to curvature.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 麴

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Etymology of 麴

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

wheat

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

Origin

麴 = 麥 + 匊. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 麴

IDS Structure⿰麥匊
麴Full character
=
麥mai4
left
匊ju1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 麴?

How to say surname Qu in Chinese

“surname Qu” in Chinese is麴qū

The character 麴 (qū) refers primarily to yeast, which is a type of fungus used in fermentation to leaven bread and brew alcohol. It can also represent the process of leavening in food preparation. Additionally, 麴 is a less common surname in Chinese culture.

When to use 麴

Be cautious with the pronunciation of this character, as it is often confused with similar-sounding words. It's more commonly used in formal contexts related to cooking or brewing rather than in casual conversations. Common collocations include phrases related to fermentation or baking.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 麴 (qū) with other similar characters like 曲 (qū), which means 'bend'. Be sure to remember that 麴 specifically relates to yeast and fermentation, while 曲 relates to curvature.

Write 麴

麴

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

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Word Family of 麴

Words containing this character1
麴qūsurname Qu

Frequently asked questions about 麴

麴 is primarily used as yeast for fermentation, essential in making bread and brewing beverages.

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