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March 24, 2026
裤(袴)kù(ku4)
裤 (kù) refers to trousers or pants in Mandarin, encompassing various styles of lower-body clothing. It is commonly used in everyday conversation when discussing clothing, and it can refer to both formal and casual types of trousers.
Strokes12Radical衤Frequency#3639DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In China, traditional clothing styles have evolved over time, and while trousers are commonplace today, they symbolize a shift from historical practices. The modernization of fashion has made '裤' a staple term in urban settings.
Memory Tip
Imagine a pair of pants (裤) hanging on a 'K' shaped hanger. The 'K' sounds like 'kù', and the shape reminds you of the legs of trousers. Visualize the pants swaying gently, reminding you to remember this character as representing something you wear.
Meanings of 裤
kù(ku4)
1underpants
2trousers
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 裤
裤Simplified
袴Traditional
12Strokes
衤Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3639Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L2
Podcast: 裤
Podcast: 裤
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AI Study Notes for 裤
Quick Contrast
裤子 (kùzi) vs 裤 (kù) — use 裤 for a more formal or concise reference to trousers, while 裤子 is more casual and commonly used in conversation.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a pair of pants (裤) hanging on a 'K' shaped hanger. The 'K' sounds like 'kù', and the shape reminds you of the legs of trousers. Visualize the pants swaying gently, reminding you to remember this character as representing something you wear.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tones; '裤' is pronounced with a falling tone (kù), while its variant '褲' has a different tone (ku4). It's often paired with other clothing-related words like '上衣' (shàngyī, upper garment) to discuss a full outfit.
HSK Study Tips
Although '裤' is not part of the official HSK levels, it is useful for learners at HSK 1-2 as they expand their vocabulary on clothing. Focus on how it fits into discussions about daily activities and shopping.
Cultural Note
In China, traditional clothing styles have evolved over time, and while trousers are commonplace today, they symbolize a shift from historical practices. The modernization of fashion has made '裤' a staple term in urban settings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '裤' with other clothing terms due to similar pronunciations. For example, saying '我喜欢买鞋' (Wǒ xǐhuān mǎi xié, I like to buy shoes) when they mean to say 'pants' can lead to confusion. The correct phrase should be '我喜欢买裤' (Wǒ xǐhuān mǎi kù).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 裤
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Grammar Patterns of 裤
裤 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 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.
In China, traditional clothing styles have evolved over time, and while trousers are commonplace today, they symbolize a shift from historical practices. The modernization of fashion has made '裤' a staple term in urban settings.
📜Proverb
‘衣食住行’是指生活的基本需要，其中‘衣’就是指衣服，包括裤子。
Word Family of 裤
Words Containing This Character20
裤子kùzitrousers褲子
裤kùpants褲
内裤underpants內褲
牛仔裤niúzǎikùjeans牛仔褲
短裤duǎnkùshorts短褲
长裤trousers長褲
裤裆crotch of trousers褲襠
裤衩underpants褲衩
棉裤quilted cotton trousers棉褲
裤腿trouser leg褲腿
裤带belt (in trousers)褲帶
纸尿裤disposable diaper紙尿褲
裤管trouser leg褲管
衬裤underpants襯褲
灯笼裤bloomers燈籠褲
喇叭裤flared trousers喇叭褲
三角裤briefs三角褲
裙裤culottes裙褲
开裆裤open pants (for infants before toilet training)開襠褲
裤头(dialect) underpants褲頭
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 裤子 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 裤
裤 (kù) and 褲 (kù) are variant forms of the same word, both meaning trousers or pants. The usage of one over the other may depend on regional preferences, but they are interchangeable in meaning.
Yes, 裤 (kù) refers to pants, while 裤子 (kùzi) is a more colloquial term that means the same thing. The addition of '子' often makes the word sound more casual or affectionate.
裤 (kù) refers to trousers or pants in Chinese. It can also denote underpants in certain contexts. The character is a variant of 褲, which has the same pronunciation and meaning.
You can use 裤 (kù) in sentences like '我穿了新的裤子' (Wǒ chuānle xīn de kùzi), which means 'I am wearing new pants.' This character typically describes clothing, specifically the lower garments.
'Jeans' are commonly referred to as '牛仔裤' (niúzǎi kù), which literally means 'cowboy pants'.
'裤' (kù) is the simplified form used in modern Mandarin, while '褲' (ku4) is the traditional form used in contexts such as literature or regions that still use traditional characters.
