HSK 6, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 川, rank #1347, Hard
州
zhōu
(old) administrative division
HSK 6, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 川, rank #1347, Hard
州
zhōu
oblast (Russia)
HSK 6, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 川, rank #1347, Hard
州
zhōu
canton (Switzerland)
HSK 6, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 川, rank #1347, Hard
zhōu(zhou1) T1
1prefecture
2state (e.g. of US)
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March 24, 2026
州zhōu(zhou1)
The character 州 (zhōu) refers to a geographic or administrative division, often translated as 'state' or 'prefecture'. It is used in both historical and modern contexts to describe regions within a country, such as provinces in China or states in the United States. In contemporary usage, it is more commonly associated with administrative divisions rather than historical provinces.
Strokes6Radical川Frequency#1347DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, 州 represented significant administrative divisions, especially during imperial times. Understanding this term helps learners appreciate the historical context of China's governance and the evolution of its administrative divisions.
Memory Tip
Think of 州 (zhōu) as a 'zoo' where each 'state' has its own unique animals. The top part '氵' (water radical) can remind you of rivers that often define state boundaries, and the bottom '州' resembles a shelter for those animals, representing the idea of a defined area or region.
Meanings of 州
zhōu(zhou1)
1prefecture
2state (e.g. of US)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 州
州Simplified
6Strokes
川Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1347Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 州
Podcast: 州
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AI Study Notes for 州
Quick Contrast
省 (shěng) - use 州 for divisions larger than a province; 县 (xiàn) - use 州 for divisions larger than a county.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 州 with similar terms like 省 (shěng, province) or 区 (qū, district), as they represent different administrative levels. 州 is typically used in more formal contexts, especially in government discussions or historical texts. Common collocations include 省/州政府 (province/state government) and 州际 (interstate).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 州 connects to other geographic terms like 省 (shěng) and 县 (xiàn), which are also important for understanding China's administrative structure. Focus on using 州 in context to describe regions accurately and practice pairing it with other terms related to governance or geography.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 州 with 省 (shěng) and use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我住在这个州的省' (I live in the province of this state) is incorrect; it should be '我住在这个州' (I live in this state).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 州
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Pictograph of a region of dry land between two rivers.
1The giveawayIslands within a river 川
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 州? 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 州?
Decomposition of 州
IDS Structure⿻川？
州Full Character
=
川Chuan1
outer
Exercise 1 of 1
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 州?
How to say prefecture in Chinese
“prefecture” in Chinese is州zhōu
The character 州 (zhōu) refers to a geographic or administrative division, often translated as 'state' or 'prefecture'. It is used in both historical and modern contexts to describe regions within a country, such as provinces in China or states in the United States. In contemporary usage, it is more commonly associated with administrative divisions rather than historical provinces.
When to use 州
Be careful not to confuse 州 with similar terms like 省 (shěng, province) or 区 (qū, district), as they represent different administrative levels. 州 is typically used in more formal contexts, especially in government discussions or historical texts. Common collocations include 省/州政府 (province/state government) and 州际 (interstate).
州 or something close to it
省 (shěng) - use 州 for divisions larger than a province; 县 (xiàn) - use 州 for divisions larger than a county.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 州 with 省 (shěng) and use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我住在这个州的省' (I live in the province of this state) is incorrect; it should be '我住在这个州' (I live in this state).
Write 州
州
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Practice writing 州 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 州
州 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). It carries 9 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.
