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娄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
lóua constellation; to wear; surnamenr, 9 strokes, radical 女, rank #26478, Hard
lóusurname Louunknown, 9 strokes, radical 女, rank #26478, Hard
lóuone of the 28 lunar mansions in Chinese astronomyunknown, 9 strokes, radical 女, rank #26478, Hard
lóu(Lou2) T2
  1. 1a constellation; to wear; surname
  2. 2one of the 28 lunar mansions in Chinese astronomy
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(婁)lóu(Lou2)

The character 娄 (lóu) primarily refers to a constellation and is associated with one of the 28 lunar mansions in Chinese astronomy. It can also be used as a surname, particularly 'Lou.' In everyday contexts, it may appear in discussions about astronomy or when referring to specific cultural or historical references involving constellations.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#26478DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the stars and constellations play an essential role in traditional astrology and navigation, making characters like 娄 significant in understanding ancient Chinese beliefs about the cosmos.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'loud' star in the sky, part of the constellation that shines brightly. The character 娄 has a woman (女) component which can remind you of the beauty of the night sky, while the radical '囗' (enclosure) suggests the boundaries of a constellation's space.

Meanings of 娄

lóu(Lou2)
1a constellation; to wear; surname
2one of the 28 lunar mansions in Chinese astronomy
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 娄

Simplified
Traditional
9Strokes
Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 娄

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 娄

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'loud' star in the sky, part of the constellation that shines brightly. The character 娄 has a woman (女) component which can remind you of the beauty of the night sky, while the radical '囗' (enclosure) suggests the boundaries of a constellation's space.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 娄 with other similar-sounding characters. It's generally used in formal contexts, especially in literature about astronomy. Be cautious with the pronunciation; ensure you use the correct tone (lóu) to avoid confusion with other meanings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 娄 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it relates to levels focusing on astronomy and geography. As you study, pay attention to related terms in both astronomy and common surname usage to broaden your vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the stars and constellations play an essential role in traditional astrology and navigation, making characters like 娄 significant in understanding ancient Chinese beliefs about the cosmos.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes mix up 娄 with similar characters like 楼 (lóu, meaning 'building'). Be careful to remember that 娄 is specifically related to constellations and surnames.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 娄

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Etymology of 娄

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 婁. Origin unclear.

Memory Hint

A woman 女 looking up at a star 米

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 娄?

Decomposition of 娄

IDS Structure⿱米女
Full Character
=
Mi3
top
nü3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 娄?

Write 娄

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 娄

娄 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 3 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.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

皮兰德____把他的戏剧命名为《六个寻找作者的剧中人》。

Pirandello titled his play "Six Characters in Search of an Author"

Example Sentences for 娄 (2)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
皮兰德娄把他的戏剧命名为《六个寻找作者的剧中人》。

pí lán dé lóu bǎ tā de xì jù mìng míng wéi《 《 liù gè xún zhǎo zuò zhě de jù zhōng》。

Pirandello titled his play "Six Characters in Search of an Author"
2
安东尼沉迷于埃及女王克娄帕特拉的美色, 失去了斗志.

ān dōng ní chén mí yú āi jí nǚ wáng kè lóu pà tè lā de měi sè, , shī qù le dǒu.

Infatuated with Queen Cleopatra of Egypt, Antony lost his will to fight.

Cultural Notes for 娄

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the stars and constellations play an essential role in traditional astrology and navigation, making characters like 娄 significant in understanding ancient Chinese beliefs about the cosmos.

Word Family of 娄

Words Containing This Character11
lóusurname Lou
娄子trouble婁子
娄底Loudi prefecture-level city in Hunan婁底
娄底市Loudi prefecture-level city in Hunan婁底市
捅娄子to make a mess of sth捅婁子
娄烦县Loufan county in Taiyuan 太原[Tài​yuán], Shanxi婁煩縣
娄烦Loufan county in Taiyuan 太原[Tài​yuán], Shanxi婁煩
娄星区Louxing district of Loudi city 婁底市|娄底市[Lóu​dǐ​shì], Hunan婁星區
娄底地区Loudi prefecture in Hunan婁底地區
出娄子to cause trouble出婁子
娄星Louxing district of Loudi city 婁底市|娄底市[Lóu​dǐ​shì], Hunan婁星
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 娄 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 娄

It refers to one of the lunar mansions used in Chinese astrology, which can influence various astrological interpretations.