库 meaning and stroke order
Warehouse; storehouse; (file) library
How to write 库, stroke by stroke
7 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
Meaning of 库
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- warehouse
- storehouse
- (file) library
How 库 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A stable 广 where carriages 车 are parked.
Radical: 广 (broad), shared by 60 characters on this site.
How to remember 库
库 is a shelter 广 with a cart 车 parked inside. Picture a covered building where carts and goods are stored, and you have a warehouse or storehouse.
库 rarely stands alone and usually appears at the end of compounds naming a place where something is stored, such as 仓库 (cāngkù) warehouse, 车库 (chēkù) garage, and 数据库 (shùjùkù) database. It also starts 库存 (kùcún) inventory. Example: 我把车停在车库里。(Wǒ bǎ chē tíng zài chēkù lǐ.) I parked the car in the garage.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 库 (kù) with 裤 (kù, trousers), which has the same sound but adds the clothing radical 衤 on the left. Also do not mix it up with 床 (chuáng, bed), which has 木 under 广 instead of 车.
Common words with 库
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 水库 | shuǐkù | reservoir | HSK 5 |
| 仓库 | cāngkù | depot; storehouse | HSK 6 |
| 数据库 | shùjùkù | (computing) database | HSK 7-9 |
| 宝库 | bǎokù | treasure-house; treasury | HSK 7-9 |
| 车库 | chēkù | garage | |
| 金库 | jīnkù | treasury | |
| 库存 | kùcún | property or cash held in reserve; stock; inventory | |
| 资料库 | zīliàokù | (Tw) (computing) database | |
| 机库 | jīkù | (aircraft) hangar | |
| 库房 | kùfáng | storeroom; warehouse | |
| 军火库 | jūnhuǒkù | arsenal |
库 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 库
Learning 库 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 库
How many strokes are in 库?
库 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 库 mean?
库 (kù) means warehouse; storehouse; (file) library. A common word with it is 水库 (shuǐkù), meaning "reservoir".
How do you pronounce 库?
库 is pronounced kù, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 库?
The radical of 库 is 广, which carries the idea of "broad". Dictionaries list 库 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 库?
The traditional form of 库 is 庫. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 库 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 库 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 库 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 仓库 and 库存?
仓库 (cāngkù) is the physical building where goods are kept. 库存 (kùcún) is the stock or inventory held there, for example 库存不足 (kùcún bùzú) means stock is running low.
Why does 水库 mean reservoir?
水库 (shuǐkù) is literally a water storehouse. A reservoir stores water the way a warehouse stores goods, so 库 covers any place that holds a reserve.