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March 24, 2026
句jù(ju4)
The character 句 (gù) primarily means 'sentence' or 'clause' in Mandarin. It is commonly used in linguistic contexts to refer to phrases, lines of verse, or stanzas in poetry. This character is often found in discussions about grammar and writing structure.
Strokes5Radical口Frequency#562DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese poetry, the term 句 is critical as it refers to lines or phrases that convey deep meanings, reflecting the importance of brevity and depth in Chinese literary tradition. Understanding how to analyze and create 句 can greatly enhance one’s appreciation of Chinese poetry.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'goose' (sounds like 'gù') writing a sentence. The character 句 looks like a stylized version of a goose standing on a piece of paper, emphasizing the idea of constructing sentences.
Meanings of 句
jù(ju4)
primary
1sentence
2clause
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 句
句Simplified
5Strokes
口Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#562Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 句
Podcast: 句
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AI Study Notes for 句
Quick Contrast
句 (jù) vs 短语 (duǎnyǔ) — use 句 for specific sentences or clauses, while 短语 refers to phrases which may not form complete sentences.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'goose' (sounds like 'gù') writing a sentence. The character 句 looks like a stylized version of a goose standing on a piece of paper, emphasizing the idea of constructing sentences.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 句 (gù) with its variant 勾 (gōu), which means 'to hook' or 'to draw.' The term is generally used in formal contexts, especially in writing and academic discussions about language. Be careful with the tone; 句 (gù) has a falling tone, while 勾 (gōu) has a rising tone.
HSK Study Tips
Although 句 is not included in the HSK levels, it is relevant for learners at HSK 3 and above, as it relates to sentence structure and grammar. Students should practice constructing sentences using this character to enhance their understanding of sentence formation.
Cultural Note
In Chinese poetry, the term 句 is critical as it refers to lines or phrases that convey deep meanings, reflecting the importance of brevity and depth in Chinese literary tradition. Understanding how to analyze and create 句 can greatly enhance one’s appreciation of Chinese poetry.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is to confuse 句 (gù) with 句子 (jùzi) when referring to a complete sentence. For example, saying '我写了一个句.' (I wrote a sentence.) is incorrect; instead, use '我写了一个句子.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 句
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Grammar Patterns of 句
句 functions as a measure word. Place it between a number/demonstrative and the noun it counts (一本书, 这个人). Different categories of nouns require different measure words. It carries 4 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.
In Chinese poetry, the term 句 is critical as it refers to lines or phrases that convey deep meanings, reflecting the importance of brevity and depth in Chinese literary tradition. Understanding how to analyze and create 句 can greatly enhance one’s appreciation of Chinese poetry.
Word Family of 句
Compounds48
够gou4to reach
狗gou3dog
拘ju1to capture
苟Gou3surname Gou
驹ju1colt; fleet, swift; surname
枸gou1a kind of aspen found in Sichuan
佝gou1rickets
茍
齣
劬qu2diligent; to toil, to endeavor
呴
姁
岣gou3a hill in Hunan
昫xu4warm
朐Qu2warm
欨
笱gou3a basket trap for fish
耇
耈
胊
豞
軥
雊
鸲qu2mynah; Erithacus species (various)
鼩qu2shrew
齁
坸
夠gou4enough, adequate; to reach, to attain; to pass muster
怐
敂
斪
泃
玽
痀
眗
竘qu3
絇
翑
蚼
袧
訽
豿
跔
邭
鉤gou1hook, barb, sickle; to hook, to link
駒ju1colt; fleet, swift; surname
鮈
鴝
Words Containing This Character20
句jùsentence
一句话yījùhuàin a word一句話
句子jùzisentence
换句话说in other words換句話說
句号full stop句號
语句sentence語句
诗句verse詩句
词句words and sentences詞句
字句words
句法syntax
造句sentence-making
句式syntax
名句famous saying
警句aphorism
句型sentence pattern (in grammar)
高句丽Goguryeo (37 BC-668 AD), one of the Korean Three Kingdoms高句麗
俳句haiku
疑问句question (grammar)疑問句
断句to punctuate斷句
从句clause從句
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 够 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 句
句 (jù) and 勾 (gōu) are different characters with distinct meanings. 句 refers to a 'sentence' or 'phrase', while 勾 can mean 'to hook' or 'to draw'. It's important to use them in the right context based on their meanings.
To use 句 (jù) in a sentence, you can refer to it when talking about sentences or phrases. For example, you might say, '这句话很有意思' (This sentence is very interesting), using 句 to highlight the sentence being discussed.
句 (jù) primarily means 'sentence' or 'phrase' in Chinese. It can also refer to a clause and is used as a classifier for phrases or lines of verse. Additionally, it has a variant form 勾 (gōu), which has different meanings.
You can say, '这句话太长了，我们需要简化句子.' (This sentence is too long; we need to simplify the clause.)
句子 (jùzi) means 'sentence' as well, but it refers specifically to a complete sentence, while 句 can refer to any clause or line.
While 句 is more common in writing and formal contexts, you can still use it in conversation when discussing grammar or writing.
