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March 24, 2026
注zhù(zhu4)
The character 注 (zhù) primarily means 'to inject' or 'to pour into.' It is commonly used in contexts such as medicine, where it refers to administering an injection, as well as in everyday situations, like pouring a liquid. Additionally, it conveys the idea of concentrating or paying attention, making it versatile in both physical and abstract applications.
Strokes8Radical氵Frequency#2328DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese medicine, 注 plays a significant role as injections are a common method of treatment, highlighting the importance of modern medical practices within Chinese society. The character also appears in various idiomatic expressions, further embedding it in daily language.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large syringe (注) injecting a clear liquid into a bottle. The horizontal stroke at the top represents the plunger, while the vertical lines resemble the liquid being poured in. The sound 'zhù' can be remembered by associating it with the act of 'zooming in' on something important, emphasizing focus.
Meanings of 注
zhù(zhu4)
1to inject
2to pour into
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 注
注Simplified
8Strokes
氵Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2328Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 注
Podcast: 注
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AI Study Notes for 注
Quick Contrast
注 (zhù) vs 倒 (dào) — choose 注 when referring to injecting or pouring into a container, while 倒 is used specifically for pouring out or outpouring.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large syringe (注) injecting a clear liquid into a bottle. The horizontal stroke at the top represents the plunger, while the vertical lines resemble the liquid being poured in. The sound 'zhù' can be remembered by associating it with the act of 'zooming in' on something important, emphasizing focus.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 注 with its variant 註 (zhù), which means 'to annotate' or 'to comment.' While both share the same pronunciation, their meanings and contexts differ. 注 is more often used in everyday situations, while 註 is used in academic or literary contexts.
HSK Study Tips
While 注 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it encompasses themes relevant to beginner and intermediate vocabulary, such as actions (injecting, pouring) and abstract concepts (focusing, paying attention). Students should focus on both its literal and figurative uses to enrich their language skills.
Cultural Note
In Chinese medicine, 注 plays a significant role as injections are a common method of treatment, highlighting the importance of modern medical practices within Chinese society. The character also appears in various idiomatic expressions, further embedding it in daily language.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 注 with the variant 註, leading to incorrect usage in contexts like writing comments. For example, saying '我想要注这个' (Wǒ xiǎng yào zhù zhège) instead of '我想要注释这个' (Wǒ xiǎng yào zhùshì zhège) for 'I want to annotate this.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 注
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六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 主 represents the sound. In simplified Chinese 注 is also used to mean "register; comment", while in traditional Chinese this meaning is written with a separate character 註.
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Grammar Patterns of 注
注 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 12 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.
The patient is sedated with intravenous use of sedative drugs.
Cultural Notes for 注
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, the character '注' is often associated with the act of paying attention and focusing on details, which is highly valued in business and personal relationships.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese medicine, 注 plays a significant role as injections are a common method of treatment, highlighting the importance of modern medical practices within Chinese society. The character also appears in various idiomatic expressions, further embedding it in daily language.
Word Family of 注
Compounds2
乼
霔
Words Containing This Character20
注意zhùyìto take note of
关注guānzhùto pay attention to關注
注zhùto inject
注册zhùcèto register註冊
注射zhùshèinjection
注意力attention
注定zhùdìngto foreordain註定
注重zhùzhòngto emphasize
注入zhùrùto pour into
专注zhuānzhùconcentrated專注
注视zhùshìto gaze at注視
赌注stake (in a gamble)賭注
引人注目yǐnrénzhùmùto attract attention
灌注to pour into
注明to clearly indicate
标注to tag標注
注销to cancel註銷
注射器syringe
引人注意to attract attention
投注to bet
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 注意 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 注
注 (zhù) generally means to inject or concentrate, while 注入 (zhùrù) specifically means to inject into or to infuse. 注入 emphasizes the action of putting something into another medium, while 注 can be more general.
As a classifier, 注 is used primarily for sums of money. For example, you might say '一注彩票' (a lottery ticket) or '两注赌注' (two stakes in a bet). This usage helps to quantify amounts in specific contexts.
注 (zhù) means to inject, to pour into, or to concentrate. It can also imply paying attention to something. Additionally, in a gambling context, it refers to a stake or bet.
You can use 注 in sentences to express actions such as injecting or focusing attention. For example, '我需要注重我的学习' (I need to pay attention to my studies). Another example could be, '医生给病人注射了药' (The doctor injected the patient with medicine).
注 can mean to inject, to pour into, to concentrate, and to pay attention, among other uses. Context is key to understanding which meaning is intended.
An example would be: '我需要注射疫苗' (Wǒ xūyào zhùshè yìmiáo), which means 'I need to get a vaccine injection.'
Yes, 注 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing health or concentration.
