逐 meaning and stroke order
To pursue; to expel; step by step
How to write 逐, 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 逐
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (bound form) to pursue; to chase; to drive away
- one by one; individually
How 逐 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Walk.
辶 gives the meaning and 豕 hints at the sound.
Radical: 辶 (to walk), shared by 131 characters on this site.
How to remember 逐
逐 combines 辶 (walking, movement) with 豕 (pig). Picture someone running after a pig to chase it away, which links to the meanings "to chase" and "to drive away."
逐 is a bound form, so it usually appears inside words. It means chasing in 追逐 (zhuīzhú) and 驱逐 (qūzhú), and it means one by one or step by step in 逐渐 (zhújiàn), 逐步 (zhúbù) and 逐年 (zhúnián). Example: 天气逐渐变冷了。(Tiānqì zhújiàn biàn lěng le.) The weather is gradually getting colder.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 逐 with 遂 (suì), which has 㒸 inside instead of 豕. That extra stroke changes both the sound and the meaning. Also, 逐 is second tone zhú, not zhǔ.
Common words with 逐
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 逐渐 | zhújiàn | gradually | HSK 4 |
| 逐步 | zhúbù | progressively; step by step | HSK 4 |
| 追逐 | zhuīzhú | to chase; to pursue vigorously | HSK 7-9 |
| 驱逐 | qūzhú | to expel; to deport | HSK 7-9 |
| 角逐 | juézhú | to tussle; to contend | HSK 7-9 |
| 逐年 | zhúnián | year after year; with each passing year | HSK 7-9 |
| 放逐 | fàngzhú | to banish; to deport | |
| 逐出 | zhúchū | to expel; to evict | |
| 驱逐舰 | qūzhújiàn | destroyer (warship) | |
| 驱逐出境 | qūzhúchūjìng | to deport; to expel | |
| 逐一 | zhúyī | one by one | |
| 逐个 | zhúgè | one by one; one after another | |
| 随波逐流 | suíbōzhúliú | to drift with the waves and go with the flow (idiom); to follow the crowd blindly |
逐 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 逐
How many strokes are in 逐?
逐 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 逐 mean?
逐 (zhú) means to pursue; to expel; step by step. A common word with it is 逐渐 (zhújiàn), meaning "gradually".
How do you pronounce 逐?
逐 is pronounced zhú, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 逐?
The radical of 逐 is 辶, which carries the idea of "to walk". Dictionaries list 逐 under this radical.
Is 逐 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 逐 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 逐渐 and 逐步?
逐渐 (zhújiàn) describes a natural, gradual change, like weather or feelings. 逐步 (zhúbù) suggests deliberate, planned steps, such as 逐步推广 (zhúbù tuīguǎng), to roll out step by step.
Can 逐 be used alone as a verb?
In modern speech it rarely stands alone. People say 追 (zhuī) for chase or 赶走 (gǎnzǒu) for drive away. 逐 alone mostly appears in formal or literary phrases, such as 逐个 (zhúgè), one by one.