HSK 5, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 鼓, rank #4673, Hard
鼓
gǔ
to bulge
HSK 5, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 鼓, rank #4673, Hard
鼓
gǔ
to swell
HSK 5, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 鼓, rank #4673, Hard
gǔ(gu3) T3
1old variant of 鼓[gǔ]
2drum; to beat, to strike; to rouse
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March 24, 2026
鼓(皷)gǔ(gu3)
The character 鼓 (gǔ) primarily means 'drum' and is used as a verb meaning 'to beat' or 'to strike.' It can also imply the act of rousing someone or something, as in encouraging or stirring up emotions. Commonly found in musical contexts, it also relates to expressions of enthusiasm or motivation.
Strokes13Radical鼓Frequency#4673DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
Drumming holds significant cultural importance in various Chinese celebrations and rituals, such as during the Chinese New Year, where drums are used to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck. The sound of the drum is often associated with joy and festivity.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large drum (鼓) that you beat to gather a crowd. The character resembles a drum with the curved top, and you can visualize the action of beating it to produce sound. The 'g' sound in 'gǔ' can be remembered by the image of a gathering of people (鼓) being stirred by the rhythm.
Meanings of 鼓
gǔ(gu3)
1drum; to beat, to strike; to rouse
2to drum
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 鼓
鼓Simplified
皷Traditional
13Strokes
鼓Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#4673Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 鼓
Podcast: 鼓
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AI Study Notes for 鼓
Quick Contrast
击 (jī, to strike) - use 鼓 when referring specifically to the act of beating a drum or creating rhythm, while 击 is more general and can refer to striking in various contexts.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large drum (鼓) that you beat to gather a crowd. The character resembles a drum with the curved top, and you can visualize the action of beating it to produce sound. The 'g' sound in 'gǔ' can be remembered by the image of a gathering of people (鼓) being stirred by the rhythm.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 鼓 (gǔ) with other similar-sounding characters. It is used more frequently in informal contexts and can be combined with other verbs like 打 (dǎ) to describe actions related to drumming or striking. Be careful with the tones; mixing up gǔ with gu3 can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
Though 鼓 is not categorized under HSK levels, it connects with basic vocabulary related to music and rhythm. Focus on its usage in phrases such as 鼓励 (gǔlì, to encourage) to enhance your understanding of its applications in everyday contexts.
Cultural Note
Drumming holds significant cultural importance in various Chinese celebrations and rituals, such as during the Chinese New Year, where drums are used to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck. The sound of the drum is often associated with joy and festivity.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly pronounce 鼓 as gu3 instead of gǔ. For example, saying 'gu鼓' instead of 'gǔ' can lead to confusion. Additionally, using 鼓 in a context where a different word would be more appropriate is common; ensure you understand the nuances of usage.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鼓
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Grammar Patterns of 鼓
鼓 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.
As she finished each song, the crowd clapped wildly.
6
他称曼德拉先生为鼓舞了数百万民众的英雄。
tā chēng màn dé lā xiān shēng wéi gǔ wǔ le shù bǎi wàn mín zhòng de yīng xióng。
He called Mr Mandela a hero who had inspired millions.
7
我一路走来不是为了在最后关头打退堂鼓。
wǒ yī lù zǒu lái bù shì wéi le zài zuì hòu guān tóu dǎ tuì táng gǔ。
I haven't come all this way to bottle out.
8
他不断鼓励罗茜为自己找个住处。
tā bù duàn gǔ lì luó qiàn wéi zì jǐ zhǎo gè zhù chǔ。
He kept encouraging Rosie to find a place of her own.
9
我用了大约2个小时才鼓起勇气打电话。
wǒ yòng le dà yuē2 2 gè xiǎo shí cái gǔ qǐ yǒng qì dǎ diàn。
It took me about two hours to pluck up courage to call.
10
布赖恩的脸鼓得像个拳头。
bù lài ēn de liǎn gǔ dé xiàng gè quán tóu。
Brian's face balled up like a fist.
Cultural Notes for 鼓
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, drums are often used in traditional festivals and ceremonies. The sound of drums is believed to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck.
🏮Cultural insight
Drumming holds significant cultural importance in various Chinese celebrations and rituals, such as during the Chinese New Year, where drums are used to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck. The sound of the drum is often associated with joy and festivity.
Word Family of 鼓
Compounds14
瞽gu3blind, stupid; a blind musician
臌gu3swelling, edema; puffy, bloated
鼖
鼗tao2small revolving drum with knobs
鼙pi2drum carried on horseback
鼚
鼛
薣
鼕dong1the sound of drums
鼘
鼜
鼝
鼞
鼟
Words Containing This Character20
鼓励gǔlìto encourage鼓勵
鼓掌gǔzhǎngto applaud
鼓gǔdrum
鼓舞gǔwǔheartening (news)
蒙在鼓里lit. kept inside a drum (idiom)蒙在鼓裡
鼓手drummer
鼓吹to agitate for
鼓动gǔdòngto agitate鼓動
鼓浪屿Gulangyu, scenic island off Xiamen 廈門|厦门[Xiàmén]鼓浪嶼
打鼓to beat a drum
鼓声drumbeat鼓聲
欢欣鼓舞elated and excited (idiom); overjoyed歡欣鼓舞
大张旗鼓with great fanfare大張旗鼓
鼓楼a drum tower鼓樓
锣鼓gongs and drums鑼鼓
鼓起to bulge
鼓起勇气to summon one's courage鼓起勇氣
捣鼓to fiddle with sth搗鼓
打退堂鼓fig. to give up
重整旗鼓to attempt a comeback
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 瞽 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鼓
Yes, 鼓 is an old variant of the character 鼓 (gǔ) that carries similar meanings. Understanding related characters can help grasp the nuances of usage and context in the language.
鼓 (gǔ) can mean a musical instrument, the act of drumming, or metaphorically to indicate something swelling or rousing. Its meanings can vary based on context, including emotional or physical states.
You can use 鼓 in a sentence to describe actions related to drumming or excitement. For example, '他在鼓上打节奏' means 'He is drumming a rhythm.' This shows the action of playing a drum.
鼓 (gǔ) primarily means 'drum' in Chinese. It can also refer to the action of drumming or striking, as well as the idea of rousing or swelling, such as emotions or physical objects.
鼓 (gǔ) refers to the drum itself or the action of drumming, while 打鼓 (dǎgǔ) specifically means 'to beat the drum' or 'to drum.'
Yes, but it is more commonly used in informal speech. In formal contexts, you might encounter related terms like 鼓励 (gǔlì) to express encouragement.
Common phrases include 鼓励 (gǔlì, to encourage) and 鼓掌 (gǔzhǎng, to applaud), which illustrate its versatile usage.
