楚 meaning and stroke order
Clear, distinct; pain, suffering; surname
How to write 楚, stroke by stroke
13 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 楚
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- distinct
- clear
- orderly
- pain
- suffering
- deciduous bush used in Chinese medicine (genus Vitex)
How 楚 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 木 (tree), shared by 388 characters on this site.
How to remember 楚
楚 is a forest 林 (lín) on top of 疋, which looks like a foot or leg walking below. Picture walking through a thorny thicket: the scratches hurt (pain), but the path behind you becomes clear.
On its own 楚 is rare in daily speech. You mostly meet it in 清楚 (qīngchu), one of the most common words for "clear" or "to understand clearly", and in 痛楚 (tòngchǔ) for deep pain. Example: 我听不清楚。(Wǒ tīng bù qīngchu.) I can't hear clearly.
Common mistake: In 清楚 the 楚 is usually said with a neutral tone, qīngchu, not a full third tone qīngchǔ, so learners who stress it sound stiff. Also do not confuse 楚 with 礎 or 疏 (shū), which share the 疋 part.
Common words with 楚
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 清楚 | qīngchu | clear; distinct | HSK 2 |
| 一清二楚 | yīqīng'èrchǔ | to be very clear about sth (idiom) | |
| 痛楚 | tòngchǔ | pain; anguish |
楚 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 楚
Learning 楚 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 楚
How many strokes are in 楚?
楚 is written with 13 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 楚 mean?
楚 (chǔ) means clear, distinct; pain, suffering; surname. A common word with it is 清楚 (qīngchu), meaning "clear; distinct".
How do you pronounce 楚?
楚 is pronounced chǔ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 楚?
The radical of 楚 is 木, which carries the idea of "tree". Dictionaries list 楚 under this radical.
Is 楚 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 楚 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
Is 楚 the name of an ancient state?
Yes. 楚 (Chǔ) is also used as a surname, and it is the name of the historical state of Chu. You will see it in history texts and in place-related names.
How do I use 清楚 as a verb versus an adjective?
As an adjective it describes something clear: 字很清楚 (zì hěn qīngchu), the writing is clear. As a verb it means to know clearly: 我不清楚 (wǒ bù qīngchu), I'm not sure.