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March 24, 2026
禺ǒu(ou3)
The character 禺 (ǒu) refers to a specific geographical area or district, particularly in the context of ancient China. It can also denote a legendary monkey from folklore, highlighting its cultural significance. Additionally, it may represent an archaic variant of the character 偶, which means 'pair' or 'couple'.
Strokes9Radical禸
Cultural Note
In Chinese mythology, the monkey is often associated with cleverness and mischief, as seen in the famous character Sun Wukong from 'Journey to the West'. The character 禺 connects to this tradition, reflecting the significance of monkeys in Chinese folklore.
Memory Tip
Imagine a monkey (the legendary aspect of 禺) sitting atop a mountain, overseeing its district. The character's components may remind you of a monkey's agile nature, making it easier to recall the pronunciation 'ǒu' as you envision the monkey swinging through the trees.
Meanings of 禺
ǒu(ou3)
primary
1district; mountain in Zhejiang
2ancient area
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 禺
禺Simplified
9Strokes
禸Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 禺
Podcast: 禺
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AI Study Notes for 禺
Usage Notes
This character is rarely used in modern Mandarin and might be encountered in historical texts or specific cultural references. Learners should be cautious about using it in everyday conversation, as it may come off as overly formal or archaic. The character is often associated with specific place names, which should be noted for proper usage.
HSK Study Tips
As 禺 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, learners should focus on its historical and cultural context rather than practical usage. Understanding this character can enrich your comprehension of classical texts, particularly those involving folklore or ancient geography.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 禺 with more commonly used characters like 偶 due to their similar pronunciation. For example, saying '我有一个禺' (I have a 禺) instead of '我有一个偶' (I have a pair) is incorrect in modern contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 禺
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Decomposition of 禺
IDS Structure⿱日禸
禺Full Character
=
日Ri4
top
禸rou2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 禺?
How to say district; mountain in Zhejiang in Chinese
“district; mountain in Zhejiang” in Chinese is禺ǒu
The character 禺 (ǒu) refers to a specific geographical area or district, particularly in the context of ancient China. It can also denote a legendary monkey from folklore, highlighting its cultural significance. Additionally, it may represent an archaic variant of the character 偶, which means 'pair' or 'couple'.
When to use 禺
This character is rarely used in modern Mandarin and might be encountered in historical texts or specific cultural references. Learners should be cautious about using it in everyday conversation, as it may come off as overly formal or archaic. The character is often associated with specific place names, which should be noted for proper usage.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 禺 with more commonly used characters like 偶 due to their similar pronunciation. For example, saying '我有一个禺' (I have a 禺) instead of '我有一个偶' (I have a pair) is incorrect in modern contexts.
Write 禺
禺
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Practice writing 禺 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Word Family of 禺
Words Containing This Character4
番禺Panyu county in Guangdong province
番禺区Panyu district of Guangzhou city 廣州市|广州市[Guǎngzhōushì], Guangdong番禺區
曹禺Cao Yu (1910-1997), PRC dramatist
禺ǒuarchaic variant of 偶[ǒu]
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 番禺 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 禺
In modern usage, 禺 is not commonly used and primarily appears in historical or literary contexts.
It is pronounced as 'ǒu', with a falling-rising tone, which may be challenging for new learners.
No, it is considered archaic and is not typically used in daily speech.
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