unknown, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #41919, Very Hard
沽
gū
abbr. for Tianjin 天津 (also 津沽)
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #41919, Very Hard
gū(Gu1) T1
1to buy and sell; of inferior quality
2to sell
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March 24, 2026
沽gū(Gu1)
The character 沽 (gū) primarily means 'to buy and sell,' often implying a transaction related to trade. It can also refer to items of inferior quality. In a more specific context, it serves as an abbreviation for Tianjin (天津) in northern China, highlighting its regional significance.
Strokes8Radical氵Frequency#41919DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of buying and selling is deeply rooted in daily life, especially in bustling markets where negotiation is common. The character 沽 reflects the importance of trade in historical and modern Chinese society, particularly in cities like Tianjin.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fish market where sellers are trying to 'gū' (sell) their catch of the day. The radical '氵' suggests water, connecting it to a market by the river. Picture the sellers calling out, trying to convince buyers of the quality of their fish, even if some are of inferior quality.
Meanings of 沽
gū(Gu1)
1to buy and sell; of inferior quality
2to sell
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 沽
沽Simplified
8Strokes
氵Radical
简称abbreviation (abbr.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 沽
Podcast: 沽
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AI Study Notes for 沽
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 沽 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings, such as '姑' (gū), which means 'aunt.' It is generally used in informal contexts, especially related to trade. Be careful with the tone, as mispronouncing 'gū' can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
While 沽 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other trading-related terms. Students should focus on understanding its usage in market contexts and how it interacts with other economic terms they may encounter in higher HSK levels.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 沽 in formal contexts where terms like '销售' (xiāoshòu, to sell) would be more appropriate. For instance, saying '我想沽这个产品' (Wǒ xiǎng gū zhège chǎnpǐn) sounds awkward; using '我想销售这个产品' is more suitable.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 沽
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Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 古 represents the sound.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half古 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywater
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 沽? 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 沽?
Decomposition of 沽
IDS Structure⿰氵古
沽Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
古Gu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 沽?
How to say to buy and sell; of inferior quality in Chinese
“to buy and sell; of inferior quality” in Chinese is沽gū
The character 沽 (gū) primarily means 'to buy and sell,' often implying a transaction related to trade. It can also refer to items of inferior quality. In a more specific context, it serves as an abbreviation for Tianjin (天津) in northern China, highlighting its regional significance.
When to use 沽
A common mistake is to confuse 沽 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings, such as '姑' (gū), which means 'aunt.' It is generally used in informal contexts, especially related to trade. Be careful with the tone, as mispronouncing 'gū' can lead to misunderstandings.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 沽 in formal contexts where terms like '销售' (xiāoshòu, to sell) would be more appropriate. For instance, saying '我想沽这个产品' (Wǒ xiǎng gū zhège chǎnpǐn) sounds awkward; using '我想销售这个产品' is more suitable.
Write 沽
沽
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Practice writing 沽 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Word Family of 沽
Words Containing This Character10
沽gūto buy
待价而沽to wait for a good offer待價而沽
沽名钓誉gūmíngdiàoyùto angle for fame (idiom)沽名釣譽
泸沽湖Lugu Lake瀘沽湖
塘沽Tanggu former district of Tianjin, now part of Binhai subprovincial district 濱海新區|滨海新区[Bīnhǎixīnqū]
塘沽区Tanggu former district of Tianjin, now part of Binhai subprovincial district 濱海新區|滨海新区[Bīnhǎixīnqū]塘沽區
汉沽区Hangu former district of Tianjin, now part of Binhai subprovincial district 濱海新區|滨海新区[Bīnhǎixīnqū]漢沽區
汉沽Hangu former district of Tianjin, now part of Binhai subprovincial district 濱海新區|滨海新区[Bīnhǎixīnqū]漢沽
沽源Guyuan county in Zhangjiakou 張家口|张家口[Zhāngjiākǒu], Hebei
沽源县Guyuan county in Zhangjiakou 張家口|张家口[Zhāngjiākǒu], Hebei沽源縣
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 沽 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 沽
While both refer to trade, 沽 specifically implies selling, often in a market context, whereas 买卖 refers more generally to buying and selling.
It is generally used in informal contexts, particularly in trade and markets, and may not be suitable for formal writing.
Yes, it can appear in phrases related to commerce and trade, especially in regional dialects.
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