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駑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
駑nútired old horse; old, weakx, 15 strokes, radical 馬
nú(nu2) T2
  1. 1tired old horse; old, weak
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

駑nú(nu2)

The character 駑 (nú) refers to a tired old horse, symbolizing something that is old and weak. In broader contexts, it can be used metaphorically to describe an individual or thing that is underperforming or lacking in vitality, often in academic or professional settings.

Strokes15Radical馬
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, horses symbolized strength and nobility; thus, a 駑 horse represents a fall from grace or lost potential. This character can reflect societal values around diligence and capability.

Memory Tip

Imagine a worn-out horse struggling to carry its load, representing the tiredness and weakness implied by 駑. The character combines the radical for horse (馬) on the right, reminding you of the equine theme, while the left side suggests something that is lacking energy.

Meanings of 駑

nú(nu2)
1tired old horse; old, weak
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 駑

駑Simplified
15Strokes
馬Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 駑

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Podcast: 駑

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AI Study Notes for 駑

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 駑, as it can carry a negative connotation if applied to people. It is more commonly used in literary or formal contexts, and may not be suitable for casual conversation. The tone is flat, so ensure you emphasize the character properly to convey its meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 駑 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can help learners understand the use of animal metaphors in Chinese. Focus on connecting this character with others that describe animals or qualities, enhancing your vocabulary related to descriptions of nature and character traits.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 駑 with similar-sounding characters. For example, using 騑 (fú), which refers to a different type of horse, or using it inappropriately to describe a lively person, which misrepresents its meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 駑

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Etymology of 駑

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

horse

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 駑

  1. 1The meaning half馬 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half奴 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayhorse
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 駑? 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 駑?

Decomposition of 駑

IDS Structure⿱奴馬
駑Full Character
=
奴nu2
top
馬ma3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 駑?

How to say tired old horse; old, weak in Chinese

“tired old horse; old, weak” in Chinese is駑nú

The character 駑 (nú) refers to a tired old horse, symbolizing something that is old and weak. In broader contexts, it can be used metaphorically to describe an individual or thing that is underperforming or lacking in vitality, often in academic or professional settings.

When to use 駑

Be cautious when using 駑, as it can carry a negative connotation if applied to people. It is more commonly used in literary or formal contexts, and may not be suitable for casual conversation. The tone is flat, so ensure you emphasize the character properly to convey its meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 駑 with similar-sounding characters. For example, using 騑 (fú), which refers to a different type of horse, or using it inappropriately to describe a lively person, which misrepresents its meaning.

Write 駑

駑

Practice writing 駑 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 駑

Words Containing This Character2
驽núworn out old horses駑
驽马恋栈豆an incompetent man clings to a good position (idiom)駑馬戀棧豆
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 驽 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 駑

No, 駑 is more often found in literature or formal writing, rather than in casual speech.

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