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轆 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
轆lùwindlass, pulley, capstanx, 18 strokes, radical 車
lù(lu4) T4
  1. 1windlass, pulley, capstan
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

轆lù(lu4)

The character 轆 (lù) refers primarily to a type of mechanical device such as a windlass, pulley, or capstan that is used for lifting or hauling. It is commonly found in contexts related to construction, transportation, and traditional maritime practices. Understanding this term can enhance comprehension of related technical vocabulary in both mechanical and nautical discussions.

Strokes18Radical車
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese shipbuilding and nautical practices, devices like 轆 were essential for operating sails and managing heavy ropes, reflecting the importance of maritime trade in Chinese history. This character can often be seen in technical manuals or historical texts about ship construction.

Memory Tip

Imagine a big, round wheel (the character 轆 resembles a wheel) that helps lift heavy objects like a strong windlass. Picture a sailor using it on a ship to pull in ropes, making it easier to haul the sails. The sound 'lù' can be remembered as the 'loop' of the rope going around this wheel.

Meanings of 轆

lù(lu4)
1windlass, pulley, capstan
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 轆

轆Simplified
18Strokes
車Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 轆

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Podcast: 轆

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AI Study Notes for 轆

Usage Notes

This character is often used in formal contexts related to machinery and should not be confused with similar terms. Common collocations include phrases like 轆轤 (lùluó), which refers to 'pulley,' and it is important to use the correct tone to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 轆 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is useful to connect it with other mechanical terms like 轮 (lún, wheel) and 轴 (zhóu, axle) that might appear in higher levels of study. Focus on understanding mechanical contexts to fully grasp its usage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 轆 with similar characters, like 轮 (lún), which means wheel. For example, saying '我需要一个轮来拉' (I need a wheel to pull) instead of '我需要一个轆来拉' can lead to misunderstandings in technical contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 轆

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Etymology of 轆

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

Phonosemantic compound. 车 represents the meaning and 鹿 represents the sound. Simplified form of 轆.

Memory Hint

wheel

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 轆

Phonosemantic compound. 车 represents the meaning and 鹿 represents the sound. Simplified form of 轆.

  1. 1The meaning half車 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half鹿 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywheel
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 轆? 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 轆?

Decomposition of 轆

IDS Structure⿰車鹿
轆Full Character
=
車che1
left
鹿lu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 轆?

How to say windlass, pulley, capstan in Chinese

“windlass, pulley, capstan” in Chinese is轆lù

The character 轆 (lù) refers primarily to a type of mechanical device such as a windlass, pulley, or capstan that is used for lifting or hauling. It is commonly found in contexts related to construction, transportation, and traditional maritime practices. Understanding this term can enhance comprehension of related technical vocabulary in both mechanical and nautical discussions.

When to use 轆

This character is often used in formal contexts related to machinery and should not be confused with similar terms. Common collocations include phrases like 轆轤 (lùluó), which refers to 'pulley,' and it is important to use the correct tone to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 轆 with similar characters, like 轮 (lún), which means wheel. For example, saying '我需要一个轮来拉' (I need a wheel to pull) instead of '我需要一个轆来拉' can lead to misunderstandings in technical contexts.

Write 轆

轆

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 轆

Words Containing This Character4
饥肠辘辘stomach rumbling with hunger飢腸轆轆
轱辘wheel軲轆
辘lùwindlass轆
辘轳well pulley轆轤
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 饥肠辘辘 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 轆

The correct pronunciation is lù, with a falling tone.

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