株 meaning and stroke order
Tree trunk; stump (tree root); a plant
How to write 株, stroke by stroke
10 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 株
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- tree trunk
- stump (tree root)
- a plant
- classifier for trees or plants
- strain (biology)
- to involve others (in shady business)
How 株 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Tree.
木 gives the meaning and 朱 hints at the sound.
Radical: 木 (tree), shared by 388 characters on this site.
How to remember 株
株 combines 木 (tree) on the left with 朱 (zhū), which gives the sound. Picture a tree 木 cut down to a red 朱 stump, and you have the character for a tree trunk or stump.
Today 株 is most often a measure word for trees and plants, a bit more formal than 棵 (kē). It also appears in science for a strain, as in 病毒株 (bìngdú zhū, virus strain). Example: 院子里有三株桃树。(Yuànzi lǐ yǒu sān zhū táoshù.) There are three peach trees in the yard.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 株 with 珠 (zhū, pearl), which has the same sound and the same 朱 part but uses the jade radical 王 instead of 木. Remember that plants take 木, and jewels take 王.
Common words with 株
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 守株待兔 | shǒuzhū-dàitù | lit. to guard a tree-stump, waiting for rabbits (idiom); to wait idly for opportunities | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 株
How many strokes are in 株?
株 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 株 mean?
株 (zhū) means tree trunk; stump (tree root); a plant. A common word with it is 守株待兔 (shǒuzhū-dàitù), meaning "lit. to guard a tree-stump, waiting for rabbits (idiom); to wait idly for opportunities".
How do you pronounce 株?
株 is pronounced zhū, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 株?
The radical of 株 is 木, which carries the idea of "tree". Dictionaries list 株 under this radical.
Is 株 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 株 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the story behind 守株待兔?
It comes from an old tale about a farmer who saw a rabbit run into a tree stump and die. He then stopped farming and sat by the stump waiting for more rabbits. The idiom criticizes waiting for luck instead of working.
Is 株 used in the word for stock or shares?
In Mandarin, stocks are 股票 (gǔpiào), not 株. Japanese uses 株 for shares, so you may see it in Japanese texts, but this is not standard Chinese usage.