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March 24, 2026
咒(呪)zhòu(zhou4)
The character 咒 (zhòu) refers to the act of cursing or casting a spell, often associated with incantations used in magical or religious practices. It can imply a sense of invoking supernatural forces to bring about harm or misfortune to someone. Commonly used in literature and folklore, this term can evoke feelings of fear or reverence.
Strokes8Radical口Frequency#4918DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, curses and incantations play significant roles in folklore and mythology, often reflecting the belief in supernatural forces and the spiritual world. The use of 咒 can often be found in historical texts or practices associated with Taoism and folk religion.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wizard (the character's form has elements of magic) waving a wand and shouting 'zhòu' to cast a spell of misfortune. The '口' radical suggests speaking, while the '呪' component connects to incantations, making it easier to remember that it relates to spoken curses.
Meanings of 咒
zhòu(zhou4)
1to curse; to damn; incantation
2magic spell
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 咒
咒Simplified
呪Traditional
8Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 咒
Podcast: 咒
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AI Study Notes for 咒
Quick Contrast
咒 (curse) vs 诅 (curse, more formal) — use 咒 for a more colloquial or narrative context.
Usage Notes
Be aware that 咒 is often used in a more formal or literary context and may not be common in daily conversation. A common mistake is using it interchangeably with other terms for 'curse' without recognizing the specific magical connotation it carries. Note that the pronunciation is important; misplacing the tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
Although not part of the official HSK levels, this character can connect with other HSK vocabulary related to magic or folklore, such as '魔法' (mófǎ) for magic. Focus on understanding the context in which 咒 is used, particularly in stories or discussions about traditional Chinese beliefs.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 咒 with other curse-related terms and may incorrectly use it in casual conversation. For example, using 咒 to casually express frustration instead of a more appropriate term like '骂' (mà) for 'to scold' could lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 咒
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How to say to curse; to damn; incantation in Chinese
“to curse; to damn; incantation” in Chinese is咒zhòu
The character 咒 (zhòu) refers to the act of cursing or casting a spell, often associated with incantations used in magical or religious practices. It can imply a sense of invoking supernatural forces to bring about harm or misfortune to someone. Commonly used in literature and folklore, this term can evoke feelings of fear or reverence.
When to use 咒
Be aware that 咒 is often used in a more formal or literary context and may not be common in daily conversation. A common mistake is using it interchangeably with other terms for 'curse' without recognizing the specific magical connotation it carries. Note that the pronunciation is important; misplacing the tone can change the meaning entirely.
咒 or something close to it
咒 (curse) vs 诅 (curse, more formal) — use 咒 for a more colloquial or narrative context.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 咒 with other curse-related terms and may incorrectly use it in casual conversation. For example, using 咒 to casually express frustration instead of a more appropriate term like '骂' (mà) for 'to scold' could lead to misunderstandings.
Write 咒
咒
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Practice writing 咒 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 咒
咒 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 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 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
夏尔马先生点上香，念起梵文____语。
Mr Sharma lit incense and chanted Sanskrit mantras.
