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蕖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蕖qúlotusx, 14 strokes, radical 艹
qú(qu2) T2
  1. 1lotus
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蕖qú(qu2)

The character 蕖 (qú) refers specifically to the lotus plant, which is often associated with purity and beauty in Chinese culture. It is commonly used in literary contexts and can symbolize spiritual growth due to the lotus's ability to bloom in muddy waters.

Strokes14Radical艹
Cultural Note

The lotus is a significant symbol in Buddhism and Chinese art, representing enlightenment and purity. It is often depicted in paintings and poetry, reflecting its esteemed status in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'cue' (qú) for a beautiful lotus flower rising above murky water, showcasing its purity and elegance. The character 蕖 contains the radical for 'plant' (艹) on top, reinforcing the idea of a flowering plant.

Meanings of 蕖

qú(qu2)
1lotus
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蕖

蕖Simplified
14Strokes
艹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蕖

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Podcast: 蕖

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 蕖

Quick Contrast

莲 (lián) — use 蕖 when emphasizing the cultural and literary aspects of the lotus, while 莲 is more commonly used in everyday contexts.

Usage Notes

This character is more formal and literary, so it's not used in everyday conversation. Students should be cautious with its tone and context, as it might be confused with other plant-related terms like 花 (huā, flower). Common collocations include 蕖莲 (qúlián, lotus).

HSK Study Tips

Though not in the standard HSK levels, understanding 蕖 can enhance vocabulary related to plants and nature. Focus on recognizing its usage in poetry or literature where nature is a theme, connecting it with related words like 花 (flower) and 葉 (leaf).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蕖 with similar characters and mispronounce it. A common error is using 荷 instead of 蕖 when discussing lotuses in a formal context; remember that 蕖 is more poetic.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蕖

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Etymology of 蕖

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

plant

Semantic (meaning)艹
+
Phonetic (sound)渠
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蕖

  1. 1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half渠 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayplant
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 蕖? 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 蕖?

Decomposition of 蕖

IDS Structure⿱艹渠
蕖Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
渠ju4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蕖?

How to say lotus in Chinese

“lotus” in Chinese is蕖qú

The character 蕖 (qú) refers specifically to the lotus plant, which is often associated with purity and beauty in Chinese culture. It is commonly used in literary contexts and can symbolize spiritual growth due to the lotus's ability to bloom in muddy waters.

When to use 蕖

This character is more formal and literary, so it's not used in everyday conversation. Students should be cautious with its tone and context, as it might be confused with other plant-related terms like 花 (huā, flower). Common collocations include 蕖莲 (qúlián, lotus).

蕖 or something close to it

莲 (lián) — use 蕖 when emphasizing the cultural and literary aspects of the lotus, while 莲 is more commonly used in everyday contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蕖 with similar characters and mispronounce it. A common error is using 荷 instead of 蕖 when discussing lotuses in a formal context; remember that 蕖 is more poetic.

Write 蕖

蕖

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 蕖

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, the lotus is often appreciated for its aesthetic beauty, whereas in Chinese culture, it carries deeper spiritual meanings and symbolism related to personal growth and enlightenment.

Word Family of 蕖

Words Containing This Character1
蕖qúlotus
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 蕖 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蕖

It is pronounced as 'qú' with the first tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蕖?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.