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矻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
矻kūbusy; to toil, to slave awayzg, 8 strokes, radical 石
矻kūTaiwan pr. [ku4]unknown, 8 strokes, radical 石
kū(ku1) T1
  1. 1busy; to toil, to slave away
  2. 2Taiwan pr. [ku4]
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March 24, 2026

矻kū(ku1)

The character 矻 (kū) conveys the idea of being busy or toiling away, often associated with hard work or labor. It can also imply a sense of drudgery or being overworked, making it relevant in discussions about work ethics and labor practices.

Strokes8Radical石
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, hard work is highly valued, often associated with virtues like diligence and perseverance. The character 矻 reflects this cultural emphasis on the importance of labor and industriousness.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person toiling in a field, their back bent and limbs weary from labor. The character 矻 looks like a worker hunched over, emphasizing the toil and fatigue associated with hard work, and the 'kū' sounds like 'coup,' as in a coup of effort.

Meanings of 矻

kū(ku1)
1busy; to toil, to slave away
2Taiwan pr. [ku4]
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 矻

矻Simplified
8Strokes
石Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 矻

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Podcast: 矻

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AI Study Notes for 矻

Usage Notes

This character is often used in a literary or formal context. Be careful with the pronunciation, as it can be confused with other similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 矻矻 (kū kū), which emphasizes the state of being busy or toiling continuously.

HSK Study Tips

Although 矻 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary, it relates to other characters about work and effort at higher levels. Focus on recognizing its use in literary contexts and pairing it with more commonly used words to enhance comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 矻 with other characters that have similar sounds or meanings, such as 努 (nǔ, to strive). A common mistake is using it inappropriately in casual conversation; it’s best reserved for written forms or formal speech.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 矻

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Etymology of 矻

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

stone

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

Origin

矻 = 石 + 乞. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 矻

IDS Structure⿰石乞
矻Full Character
=
石dan4
left
乞qi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 矻?

How to say busy; to toil, to slave away in Chinese

“busy; to toil, to slave away” in Chinese is矻kū

The character 矻 (kū) conveys the idea of being busy or toiling away, often associated with hard work or labor. It can also imply a sense of drudgery or being overworked, making it relevant in discussions about work ethics and labor practices.

When to use 矻

This character is often used in a literary or formal context. Be careful with the pronunciation, as it can be confused with other similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 矻矻 (kū kū), which emphasizes the state of being busy or toiling continuously.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 矻 with other characters that have similar sounds or meanings, such as 努 (nǔ, to strive). A common mistake is using it inappropriately in casual conversation; it’s best reserved for written forms or formal speech.

Write 矻

矻

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

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Word Family of 矻

Words Containing This Character2
矻kūassiduously
孜孜矻矻diligently
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 矻

What does 孜孜矻矻 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 矻

It can describe someone who is working hard, such as '他在田里矻矻忙碌' (He is busy toiling in the fields).

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