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儒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
儒rúscholarHSK 6, n, 16 strokes, radical 亻, rank #31140, Hard
儒rúConfucianHSK 6, n, 16 strokes, radical 亻, rank #31140, Hard
儒rúConfucian scholarHSK 6, n, 16 strokes, radical 亻, rank #31140, Hard
rú(ru2)ru T2
  1. 1scholar
  2. 2Confucian
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March 24, 2026

儒rú(ru2)

The character 儒 (rú) refers to a scholar, particularly one associated with Confucianism, which emphasizes morality, ethics, and social harmony. It is commonly used to describe individuals who are well-educated and uphold traditional values, often in the context of Chinese philosophy and governance.

Strokes16Radical亻Frequency#31140DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 儒 represents not just a scholar but a moral guide, reflecting the deep-rooted influence of Confucianism in family and societal structures, especially in education and governance.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wise scholar sitting under a tree, reading ancient texts, symbolizing the wisdom and learning associated with Confucian scholars. The character 儒 is made up of the radical 亻 (person) and the component 如 (to be like), suggesting a person who embodies the ideals of Confucianism.

Meanings of 儒

rú(ru2)
1scholar
2Confucian
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 儒

儒Simplified
16Strokes
亻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#31140Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6

Podcast: 儒

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Podcast: 儒

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AI Study Notes for 儒

Quick Contrast

士 (shì) - use 儒 (rú) for scholars specifically tied to Confucianism, while 士 (shì) refers more broadly to scholars or gentlemen without that specific philosophical connotation.

Usage Notes

儒 is often used in formal contexts when discussing education or philosophy, and it can be part of compound words like 儒家 (Confucian school). Be careful with tone as a mispronunciation can change the meaning of words significantly.

HSK Study Tips

While 儒 is not listed in the HSK vocabulary, it connects to themes of education and morality that are prevalent in higher-level HSK words. Focus on understanding its contextual usage within discussions of philosophy and history.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 儒 (rú) with other similar-sounding characters. For example, mistakenly using 如 (rú, meaning 'to be like') instead of 儒 when discussing scholars can lead to confusion. Always check the context to ensure you are using the correct character.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 儒

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Etymology of 儒

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 需 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

person

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

Origin

儒 = 亻 + 需. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 儒

IDS Structure⿰亻需
儒Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
需xu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 儒?

How to say scholar in Chinese

“scholar” in Chinese is儒rú

The character 儒 (rú) refers to a scholar, particularly one associated with Confucianism, which emphasizes morality, ethics, and social harmony. It is commonly used to describe individuals who are well-educated and uphold traditional values, often in the context of Chinese philosophy and governance.

When to use 儒

儒 is often used in formal contexts when discussing education or philosophy, and it can be part of compound words like 儒家 (Confucian school). Be careful with tone as a mispronunciation can change the meaning of words significantly.

儒 or something close to it

士 (shì) - use 儒 (rú) for scholars specifically tied to Confucianism, while 士 (shì) refers more broadly to scholars or gentlemen without that specific philosophical connotation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 儒 (rú) with other similar-sounding characters. For example, mistakenly using 如 (rú, meaning 'to be like') instead of 儒 when discussing scholars can lead to confusion. Always check the context to ensure you are using the correct character.

Write 儒

儒

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

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Word Family of 儒

Words Containing This Character16
侏儒dwarf
儒rúscholar
儒家rújiāConfucian school, founded by Confucius 孔子[Kǒng​zǐ] (551-479 BC) and Mencius 孟子[Mèng​zǐ] (c. 372-c. 289 BC)
儒学rúxuéConfucianism儒學
儒雅scholarly
儒生Confucian scholar (old)
儒教Confucianism
儒者Confucian
儒士a Confucian scholar
焚书坑儒to burn the Confucian classics and bury alive the Confucian scholars (acts supposedly committed by the first emperor 秦始皇[Qín​Shǐ​huáng])焚書坑儒
儒勒·凡尔纳Jules Verne (1828-1905), French novelist specializing in science fiction and adventure stories, author of Around the World in Eighty Days 八十天环绕地球儒勒·凡爾納
独尊儒术dismiss the hundred schools, revere only the Confucians (slogan of the Former Han dynasty)獨尊儒術
犬儒主义cynicism犬儒主義
宿儒experienced scholar
李英儒Li Yingru (1913-1989), calligrapher and writer, author of many novels about the war as seen by the communists
迂儒unrealistic
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 儒

What does 侏儒 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 儒

In modern contexts, 儒 can refer to scholars or intellectuals who adhere to Confucian values, often in discussions about morality and ethics.

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