簇 meaning and stroke order
Bunch, cluster; crowd, swarm
How to write 簇, stroke by stroke
17 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 簇
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (bound form) to cluster; to pile up
- cluster; pile
- classifier for bunches, clusters, piles etc
How 簇 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Bamboo.
⺮ gives the meaning and 族 hints at the sound.
Radical: ⺮ (bamboo), shared by 149 characters on this site.
How to remember 簇
Picture bamboo ⺮ on top of a clan 族 (zú): a whole family of bamboo stalks growing close together in one cluster. The bamboo top gives the meaning, and 族 hints at the sound.
簇 (cù) mostly appears in set words like 簇拥 (cùyōng, to crowd around) and 花团锦簇 (huātuán jǐncù, rich clusters of flowers). It also works as a classifier for bunches or clusters of things. Example: 一簇鲜花 (yí cù xiānhuā) a bunch of fresh flowers.
Common mistake: Learners often read 簇 as zú because of its phonetic part 族, but the correct reading is cù with a fourth tone. Also do not drop the bamboo top, or you end up writing 族 (zú, clan, ethnic group).
Common words with 簇
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 簇拥 | cùyōng | to crowd around; to escort | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 簇
How many strokes are in 簇?
簇 is written with 17 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 簇 mean?
簇 (cù) means bunch, cluster; crowd, swarm. A common word with it is 簇拥 (cùyōng), meaning "to crowd around; to escort".
How do you pronounce 簇?
簇 is pronounced cù, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 簇?
The radical of 簇 is ⺮, which carries the idea of "bamboo". Dictionaries list 簇 under this radical.
Is 簇 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 簇 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 簇新 mean?
簇新 (cùxīn) means brand new, as in 一件簇新的衣服 (a brand-new piece of clothing). Here 簇 acts as an intensifier rather than meaning cluster.
Is 簇 the same as 束 for a bunch of flowers?
Both can count flowers, but 束 (shù) suggests a bundle tied together, like a bouquet. 簇 (cù) suggests things naturally growing or gathered in a tight cluster.