具 meaning and stroke order
Tool, implement; to draw up, to write
How to write 具, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Meaning of 具
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- tool
- device
- utensil
- equipment
- instrument
- talent
How 具 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Two hands 八 writing on a tablet 目.
Radical: 八 (eight), shared by 11 characters on this site.
How to remember 具
Picture a tablet 目 resting on a stand 一, held up by two hands 八 at the bottom. You hold a tool or a writing tablet in your hands, so 具 (jù) means a tool or implement.
具 rarely stands alone in speech. It mostly appears in words like 工具 (gōngjù, tool), 家具 (jiājù, furniture) and 具体 (jùtǐ, specific). Example: 你能说得具体一点吗？(Nǐ néng shuō de jùtǐ yìdiǎn ma?) Can you be a bit more specific?
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 具 with 真 (zhēn, real), which has an extra 十 on top. Also count the strokes inside 目 carefully. 具 has three horizontal lines inside the box, not two.
Common words with 具
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 玩具 | wánjù | plaything; toy | HSK 3 |
| 工具 | gōngjù | tool; instrument | HSK 3 |
| 具有 | jùyǒu | to have; to possess | HSK 3 |
| 具体 | jùtǐ | concrete; specific; detailed | HSK 3 |
| 家具 | jiājù | furniture | HSK 3 |
| 具备 | jùbèi | to possess; to have | HSK 4 |
| 道具 | dàojù | (theater) prop; paraphernalia | HSK 7-9 |
| 文具 | wénjù | stationery; item of stationery (pen, pencil, eraser, pencil sharpener etc) | HSK 7-9 |
| 出具 | chūjù | to issue (document, certificate etc); to provide | HSK 7-9 |
| 别具匠心 | biéjù-jiàngxīn | to show ingenuity; (of a design) clever | HSK 7-9 |
| 面具 | miànjù | mask | |
| 交通工具 | jiāotōnggōngjù | means of transportation; vehicle | |
| 餐具 | cānjù | tableware; dinner service | |
| 阳具 | yángjù | penis |
具 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 具
Learning 具 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 具
How many strokes are in 具?
具 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 具 mean?
具 (jù) means tool, implement; to draw up, to write. A common word with it is 玩具 (wánjù), meaning "plaything; toy".
How do you pronounce 具?
具 is pronounced jù, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 具?
The radical of 具 is 八, which carries the idea of "eight". Dictionaries list 具 under this radical.
Is 具 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 具 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 具有 and 有?
Both mean to have, but 具有 (jùyǒu) is formal and is used with abstract things like qualities or meaning, as in 具有意义 (jùyǒu yìyì, to be meaningful). For everyday possessions, just use 有 (yǒu).
Can 具 be used as a measure word?
Yes, in formal or written Chinese 具 can count certain objects, most often corpses or coffins, as in 一具尸体 (yí jù shītǐ, a body). You will see it in news reports more than in conversation.