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処 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
処chǔplace, locale; departmentzg, 5 strokes, radical 夂
処chǔold variant of 處|处[chu3]unknown, 5 strokes, radical 夂
chǔ(chu3) T3
  1. 1place, locale; department
  2. 2old variant of 處|处[chu3]
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March 24, 2026

処chǔ(chu3)

The character 処 (chǔ) primarily means 'place' or 'locale,' referring to a specific location or setting. It can also denote a 'department' within an organization. This character is an older variant of 處 (chù), which is more commonly used in modern Mandarin.

Strokes5Radical夂
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese bureaucracy, 処 was used to refer to departments or official places where decisions were made, reflecting the structured nature of governance in ancient China.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'charming place' where you can 'choose' to stay, connecting the sound 'chǔ' (like 'choose') with the idea of a specific location. The character itself has a 'place' radical (处) that symbolizes a physical spot or area.

Meanings of 処

chǔ(chu3)
1place, locale; department
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 処 means.

About 処

処Simplified
5Strokes
夂Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 処

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Podcast: 処

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AI Study Notes for 処

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 処 in modern contexts, as it may sound archaic or overly formal. It is often found in written language and less in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 処事 (chǔ shì - to handle matters) and 処境 (chǔ jìng - situation).

HSK Study Tips

While 処 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is beneficial to recognize its connection to 處 (chù), which appears in HSK 3. Focus on understanding the nuances of both characters and their usage in different contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 処 with 處, using them interchangeably in casual conversation. For example, saying '我在处理事情' (wǒ zài chǔlǐ shìqíng - I am handling matters) instead of using 處理 (chǔlǐ).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 処

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Etymology of 処

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

go

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

Origin

処 = 夂 + 几. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 処

IDS Structure⿺夂几
処Full Character
=
夂zhi3
enclosing
几ji1
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 処?

How to say place, locale; department in Chinese

“place, locale; department” in Chinese is処chǔ

The character 処 (chǔ) primarily means 'place' or 'locale,' referring to a specific location or setting. It can also denote a 'department' within an organization. This character is an older variant of 處 (chù), which is more commonly used in modern Mandarin.

When to use 処

Be cautious when using 処 in modern contexts, as it may sound archaic or overly formal. It is often found in written language and less in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 処事 (chǔ shì - to handle matters) and 処境 (chǔ jìng - situation).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 処 with 處, using them interchangeably in casual conversation. For example, saying '我在处理事情' (wǒ zài chǔlǐ shìqíng - I am handling matters) instead of using 處理 (chǔlǐ).

Write 処

処

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

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Word Family of 処

Words Containing This Character1
処chǔto reside

Frequently Asked Questions about 処

The correct pronunciation is chǔ, with a falling-rising tone.

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