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幬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
幬chóuto cover up; curtainx, 17 strokes, radical 巾
chóu(chou2) T2
  1. 1to cover up; curtain
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

幬chóu(chou2)

The character 幬 (chóu) refers to a covering or curtain, commonly used to describe items that provide shelter or privacy. It often appears in contexts related to architecture or interior design, where curtains or drapes are essential for decor and functionality.

Strokes17Radical巾
Cultural Note

Curtains play a significant role in Chinese homes for privacy and aesthetic purposes, often seen in traditional tea houses where they set the mood for intimate gatherings. The use of curtains ties back to the cultural practice of creating harmonious living spaces.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large curtain (幬) that covers a stage during a performance. The left side of the character resembles a roof (covering), while the right side resembles the drapes hanging down. Visualize the curtain being drawn back to reveal the show, helping you remember the sound 'chóu' as you unveil something hidden.

Meanings of 幬

chóu(chou2)
1to cover up; curtain
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 幬

幬Simplified
17Strokes
巾Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 幬

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Podcast: 幬

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AI Study Notes for 幬

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 幬 with similar characters that have different meanings, such as 伞 (sǎn), which means umbrella. This character is more formal and specific to curtains, so avoid using it in casual contexts where simpler terms might suffice.

HSK Study Tips

Although 幬 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of compound words related to home and decor. Focus on recognizing its components and how it combines with other characters, such as in 纱幔 (shāmàn, 'sheer curtain').

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 幬 with 伞 (sǎn) because both involve covering. For example, saying '我需要一个幬' (I need a covering) when referring to an umbrella is incorrect; instead, use '伞'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 幬

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Etymology of 幬

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

cloth

Semantic (meaning)巾
+
Phonetic (sound)壽
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 幬

  1. 1The meaning half巾 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half壽 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaycloth
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 幬? 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 幬?

Decomposition of 幬

IDS Structure⿰巾壽
幬Full Character
=
巾jin1
left
壽shou4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 幬?

How to say to cover up; curtain in Chinese

“to cover up; curtain” in Chinese is幬chóu

The character 幬 (chóu) refers to a covering or curtain, commonly used to describe items that provide shelter or privacy. It often appears in contexts related to architecture or interior design, where curtains or drapes are essential for decor and functionality.

When to use 幬

Be cautious not to confuse 幬 with similar characters that have different meanings, such as 伞 (sǎn), which means umbrella. This character is more formal and specific to curtains, so avoid using it in casual contexts where simpler terms might suffice.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 幬 with 伞 (sǎn) because both involve covering. For example, saying '我需要一个幬' (I need a covering) when referring to an umbrella is incorrect; instead, use '伞'.

Write 幬

幬

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 幬

Words Containing This Character1
帱chóucanopy幬
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 帱 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 幬

窗帘 specifically means 'window curtain,' while 幬 is a broader term for any kind of covering or curtain.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 幬?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.