箍 meaning and stroke order
Hoop; to surround, to bind
How to write 箍, stroke by stroke
14 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 箍
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- hoop
- to bind with hoops
How 箍 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Bamboo ⺮ bindings 㧜; 㧜 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: ⺮ (bamboo), shared by 149 characters on this site.
How to remember 箍
Bamboo ⺮ on top, 㧜 (gū) below: picture strips of bamboo bent into a ring to bind a barrel tight. The bottom part 㧜 also gives the sound gū.
箍 (gū) works as a noun for a hoop or band, as in 铁箍 (tiě gū, iron hoop), and as a verb meaning to bind something tightly with a band. It also shows up in the famous 紧箍咒 (jǐn gū zhòu), the tightening-headband spell from Journey to the West. Example: 他用铁丝把木桶箍紧了。 (Tā yòng tiěsī bǎ mùtǒng gū jǐn le.) He bound the wooden bucket tight with wire.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes confuse 箍 (gū) with 固 (gù, firm) because the sounds and the idea of holding things together are close. The tone is different, and 箍 always has the bamboo top ⺮.
Questions about 箍
How many strokes are in 箍?
箍 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 箍 mean?
箍 (gū) means hoop; to surround, to bind.
How do you pronounce 箍?
箍 is pronounced gū, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 箍?
The radical of 箍 is ⺮, which carries the idea of "bamboo". Dictionaries list 箍 under this radical.
What does 紧箍咒 mean?
紧箍咒 (jǐn gū zhòu) is the spell that tightens the golden band on Sun Wukong's head in Journey to the West. Today people use it to mean any tight restriction or control placed on someone.
Can 箍 describe hugging someone tightly?
Yes, in casual speech 箍 can mean to wrap your arms tightly around someone or something, like 箍住他 (gū zhù tā), to hold him tight. The core idea is always a tight ring around something.