蓄 meaning and stroke order
To store, to save, to hoard, to gather
How to write 蓄, 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 蓄
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to store up
- to grow (e.g. a beard)
- to entertain (ideas)
How 蓄 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Plant.
艹 gives the meaning and 畜 hints at the sound.
Radical: 艹 (grass), shared by 421 characters on this site.
How to remember 蓄
蓄 (xù) puts grass 艹 on top of 畜 (xù), which gives the sound. Picture a farmer piling up hay 艹 to store away for the livestock 畜 through winter.
蓄 almost always appears in compound words rather than alone, especially about saving money, holding back feelings, or building up strength. It can also mean letting hair grow, as in 蓄胡子 (xù húzi, to grow a beard). Example: 她把积蓄都存在银行里。(Tā bǎ jīxù dōu cún zài yínháng lǐ.) She keeps all her savings in the bank.
Common mistake: Learners often drop the grass top and write 畜, which means livestock and is usually read chù, as in 畜生 (chùsheng). Remember that 蓄 with 艹 is always xù and is about storing, not animals.
Common words with 蓄
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
蓄 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 蓄
How many strokes are in 蓄?
蓄 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 蓄 mean?
蓄 (xù) means to store, to save, to hoard, to gather. A common word with it is 积蓄 (jīxù), meaning "to save; to put aside; savings".
How do you pronounce 蓄?
蓄 is pronounced xù, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 蓄?
The radical of 蓄 is 艹, which carries the idea of "grass". Dictionaries list 蓄 under this radical.
Is 蓄 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 蓄 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 储蓄 and 积蓄?
储蓄 (chǔxù) is the more formal, financial word, often used for bank deposits, as in 储蓄卡 (chǔxù kǎ, debit card). 积蓄 (jīxù) focuses on money you have built up over time and is common in everyday talk about personal savings.
What does 含蓄 mean when describing a person?
含蓄 (hánxù) describes someone who is reserved and expresses feelings indirectly. It is often a compliment in Chinese culture, suggesting subtlety and restraint, and it can also describe writing with implied meaning.