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胬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
胬nǔpterygium, surfer's eyex, 11 strokes, radical 肉
nǔ(nu3) T3
  1. 1pterygium, surfer's eye
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March 24, 2026

胬nǔ(nu3)

The character 胬 (nǔ) refers to a medical condition known as pterygium or surfer's eye, which is a growth of fleshy tissue on the eye's surface. It is commonly associated with prolonged exposure to sunlight and can affect vision if not treated. This term is mainly used in medical contexts and discussions about eye health.

Strokes11Radical肉
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, eye health is often emphasized, especially in communities where outdoor activities are prevalent. Pterygium is seen as a condition that can be linked to lifestyle choices, such as spending time in sunny environments without proper eye protection.

Memory Tip

Think of 胬 as a 'nurturing' tissue that grows on the eye, reminding you to protect your eyes from the sun. The left part 背 (bèi) resembles a shield, implying protection, while the right part is related to the eye's surface, connecting to the idea of a growth.

Meanings of 胬

nǔ(nu3)
1pterygium, surfer's eye
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 胬

胬Simplified
11Strokes
肉Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 胬

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Podcast: 胬

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AI Study Notes for 胬

Usage Notes

This term is primarily used in medical contexts, so it might not be suitable for casual conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with other medical terms related to eye conditions. Ensure you are using the correct pronunciation with the third tone (nǔ).

HSK Study Tips

Although 胬 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to medical terminology that may appear in advanced studies. Students should focus on the pronunciation and context of use, as understanding related terms will enhance their medical vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 胬 with similar-sounding words or use it in informal settings. For example, saying '我有一个胬' (I have a 胬) instead of '我有眼睛的胬肉' (I have pterygium on my eye) is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 胬

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Etymology of 胬

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

flesh

Semantic (meaning)肉
+
Phonetic (sound)奴
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

胬 = 肉 + 奴. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 胬

IDS Structure⿱奴肉
胬Full Character
=
奴nu2
top
肉rou4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 胬?

How to say pterygium, surfer's eye in Chinese

“pterygium, surfer's eye” in Chinese is胬nǔ

The character 胬 (nǔ) refers to a medical condition known as pterygium or surfer's eye, which is a growth of fleshy tissue on the eye's surface. It is commonly associated with prolonged exposure to sunlight and can affect vision if not treated. This term is mainly used in medical contexts and discussions about eye health.

When to use 胬

This term is primarily used in medical contexts, so it might not be suitable for casual conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with other medical terms related to eye conditions. Ensure you are using the correct pronunciation with the third tone (nǔ).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 胬 with similar-sounding words or use it in informal settings. For example, saying '我有一个胬' (I have a 胬) instead of '我有眼睛的胬肉' (I have pterygium on my eye) is incorrect.

Write 胬

胬

Practice writing 胬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 胬

Words Containing This Character1
胬nǔpterygium (medicine)

Frequently Asked Questions about 胬

It refers to pterygium or surfer's eye, a growth on the surface of the eye.

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