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句 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
句
gōu
sentence
HSK 3, q, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #562, Medium
句
gōu
clause
HSK 3, q, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #562, Medium
句
gōu
sentence, clause, phrase, paragraph; stanza
HSK 3, q, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #562, Medium
句
gōu
classifier for phrases or lines of verse
HSK 3, q, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #562, Medium
句
jù
sentence
HSK 3, q, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #562, Medium
句
jù
clause
HSK 3, q, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #562, Medium
句
jù
sentence, clause, phrase, paragraph; stanza
HSK 3, q, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #562, Medium
句
jù
classifier for phrases or lines of verse
HSK 3, q, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #562, Medium
jù(ju4)ju
primary
T4
1sentence
2clause
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
句jù(ju4)
The character 句 (gù) primarily means 'sentence' or 'clause' in Mandarin. It is commonly used in linguistic contexts to refer to phrases, lines of verse, or stanzas in poetry. This character is often found in discussions about grammar and writing structure.
Strokes5Radical口Frequency#562DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese poetry, the term 句 is critical as it refers to lines or phrases that convey deep meanings, reflecting the importance of brevity and depth in Chinese literary tradition. Understanding how to analyze and create 句 can greatly enhance one’s appreciation of Chinese poetry.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'goose' (sounds like 'gù') writing a sentence. The character 句 looks like a stylized version of a goose standing on a piece of paper, emphasizing the idea of constructing sentences.
Meanings of 句
jù(ju4)
primary
1sentence
2clause
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 句 means.
About 句
句Simplified
5Strokes
口Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#562Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 句
Podcast: 句
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AI study notes for 句
Quick Contrast
句 (jù) vs 短语 (duǎnyǔ) — use 句 for specific sentences or clauses, while 短语 refers to phrases which may not form complete sentences.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 句 (gù) with its variant 勾 (gōu), which means 'to hook' or 'to draw.' The term is generally used in formal contexts, especially in writing and academic discussions about language. Be careful with the tone; 句 (gù) has a falling tone, while 勾 (gōu) has a rising tone.
HSK Study Tips
Although 句 is not included in the HSK levels, it is relevant for learners at HSK 3 and above, as it relates to sentence structure and grammar. Students should practice constructing sentences using this character to enhance their understanding of sentence formation.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is to confuse 句 (gù) with 句子 (jùzi) when referring to a complete sentence. For example, saying '我写了一个句.' (I wrote a sentence.) is incorrect; instead, use '我写了一个句子.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 句
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How well do you know 句?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 句 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 句 (gù) primarily means 'sentence' or 'clause' in Mandarin. It is commonly used in linguistic contexts to refer to phrases, lines of verse, or stanzas in poetry. This character is often found in discussions about grammar and writing structure.
When to use 句
Learners often confuse 句 (gù) with its variant 勾 (gōu), which means 'to hook' or 'to draw.' The term is generally used in formal contexts, especially in writing and academic discussions about language. Be careful with the tone; 句 (gù) has a falling tone, while 勾 (gōu) has a rising tone.
句 or something close to it
句 (jù) vs 短语 (duǎnyǔ) — use 句 for specific sentences or clauses, while 短语 refers to phrases which may not form complete sentences.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is to confuse 句 (gù) with 句子 (jùzi) when referring to a complete sentence. For example, saying '我写了一个句.' (I wrote a sentence.) is incorrect; instead, use '我写了一个句子.'
Write 句
句
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Practice writing 句 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 句
句 functions as a measure word. Place it between a number/demonstrative and the noun it counts (一本书, 这个人). Different categories of nouns require different measure words. It carries 4 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.
夠gòuenough, adequate; to reach, to attain; to pass muster
怐jù
敂kòu
斪qú
泃jū
玽gǒu
痀jū
眗jū
竘qǔ
絇qú
翑qú
蚼gǒu
袧gōu
訽gòu
豿gǒu
跔jū
邭jù
鉤gōuhook, barb, sickle; to hook, to link
駒jūcolt; fleet, swift; surname
鮈jū
鴝qú
Words containing this character20
句jùsentence
一句话yījùhuàin a word一句話
句子jùzisentence
换句话说huànjùhuàshuōin other words換句話說
句号jùhàofull stop句號
语句yǔjùsentence語句
诗句shījùverse詩句
词句cíjùwords and sentences詞句
字句zìjùwords
句法jùfǎsyntax
造句zàojùsentence-making
句式jùshìsyntax
名句míngjùfamous saying
警句jǐngjùaphorism
句型jùxíngsentence pattern (in grammar)
高句丽gāogōulíGoguryeo (37 BC-668 AD), one of the Korean Three Kingdoms高句麗
俳句páijùhaiku
疑问句yíwènjùquestion (grammar)疑問句
断句duànjùto punctuate斷句
从句cóngjùclause從句
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 句
What does 够 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 句
句 (jù) and 勾 (gōu) are different characters with distinct meanings. 句 refers to a 'sentence' or 'phrase', while 勾 can mean 'to hook' or 'to draw'. It's important to use them in the right context based on their meanings.
To use 句 (jù) in a sentence, you can refer to it when talking about sentences or phrases. For example, you might say, '这句话很有意思' (This sentence is very interesting), using 句 to highlight the sentence being discussed.
句 (jù) primarily means 'sentence' or 'phrase' in Chinese. It can also refer to a clause and is used as a classifier for phrases or lines of verse. Additionally, it has a variant form 勾 (gōu), which has different meanings.
You can say, '这句话太长了，我们需要简化句子.' (This sentence is too long; we need to simplify the clause.)
句子 (jùzi) means 'sentence' as well, but it refers specifically to a complete sentence, while 句 can refer to any clause or line.
While 句 is more common in writing and formal contexts, you can still use it in conversation when discussing grammar or writing.
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