固 meaning and stroke order
To solidify; strength
How to write 固, 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 固
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- hard
- strong
- solid
- sure
- assuredly
- undoubtedly
How 固 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Border.
囗 gives the meaning and 古 hints at the sound.
Radical: 囗 (enclosure), shared by 39 characters on this site.
How to remember 固
Picture something old, 古 (gǔ), sealed inside a strong border 囗. Walled in for ages, it has become fixed and solid, which is the meaning of 固 (gù), while 古 also hints at the sound.
固 (gù) rarely stands alone in modern speech. It mostly appears in two-character words about being firm, fixed, or stubborn, such as 固定, 坚固, and 固执. Example: 这张桌子很牢固。(Zhè zhāng zhuōzi hěn láogù.) This table is very sturdy.
Common mistake: Learners often read 固 with the third tone because its phonetic 古 is gǔ, but 固 is fourth tone, gù. Also do not confuse it with 困 (kùn, sleepy or trapped), which has 木 inside the same border instead of 古.
Common words with 固
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 固定 | gùdìng | to fix; to fasten | HSK 4 |
| 坚固 | jiāngù | firm; firmly | HSK 4 |
| 巩固 | gǒnggù | to consolidate; to strengthen; firm; solid; stable | HSK 6 |
| 固执 | gùzhi | obstinate; stubborn | HSK 7-9 |
| 顽固 | wángù | stubborn; obstinate | HSK 7-9 |
| 牢固 | láogù | firm; secure | HSK 7-9 |
| 凝固 | nínggù | to freeze; to solidify | HSK 7-9 |
| 稳固 | wěngù | stable; steady | HSK 7-9 |
| 固然 | gùrán | admittedly (it's true that...) | HSK 7-9 |
| 根深蒂固 | gēnshēn-dìgù | deep-rooted (problem etc) | HSK 7-9 |
| 类固醇 | lèigùchún | steroid | |
| 胆固醇 | dǎngùchún | cholesterol | |
| 加固 | jiāgù | to reinforce (a structure); to strengthen | |
| 固体 | gùtǐ | solid |
固 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 固
Learning 固 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 固
How many strokes are in 固?
固 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 固 mean?
固 (gù) means to solidify; strength. A common word with it is 固定 (gùdìng), meaning "to fix; to fasten".
How do you pronounce 固?
固 is pronounced gù, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 固?
The radical of 固 is 囗, which carries the idea of "enclosure". Dictionaries list 固 under this radical.
Is 固 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 固 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 固执 and 顽固?
Both mean stubborn. 固执 (gùzhi) is the everyday word for someone who will not change their mind. 顽固 (wángù) is stronger and more negative, often used for stubborn people, ideas, or even hard to cure illnesses.
Does 固 mean solid as in a solid object, like ice?
Yes, in words like 凝固 (nínggù, to solidify) and 固体 (gùtǐ, a solid). So 固 covers both physical solidity and abstract firmness, as in 巩固 (gǒnggù, to consolidate).