锄 meaning and stroke order
Hoe; to eradicate, to weed out
How to write 锄, stroke by stroke
12 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 锄
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- a hoe
- to hoe or dig
- to weed
- to get rid of
How 锄 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A metal 钅 tool 助; 助 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 钅 (gold), shared by 223 characters on this site.
How to remember 锄
锄 combines 钅 (metal) with 助 (zhù, to help): a metal tool that helps you work the soil. 助 also hints at the sound, chú.
锄 is used as a noun for a hoe, as in 锄头 (chútou), and as a verb meaning to hoe or weed. It also appears figuratively for getting rid of bad people or things, as in 锄奸 (chú jiān, to eliminate traitors). Example: 农民在地里锄草。(Nóngmín zài dì li chú cǎo.) The farmers are hoeing weeds in the field.
Common mistake: Learners often read 锄 as zhù because of the 助 component, but it is pronounced chú with a second tone. Do not confuse it with 除 (chú, to remove), which sounds the same but has the 阝 radical and is far more common in general use.
锄 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 锄
How many strokes are in 锄?
锄 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 锄 mean?
锄 (chú) means hoe; to eradicate, to weed out.
How do you pronounce 锄?
锄 is pronounced chú, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 锄?
The radical of 锄 is 钅, which carries the idea of "gold". Dictionaries list 锄 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 锄?
The traditional form of 锄 is 鋤. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 锄 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 锄草 and 除草?
Both mean to remove weeds and are pronounced chú cǎo. 锄草 specifically suggests using a hoe by hand, while 除草 is the general term and covers any method, including weedkiller or machines.
Is 锄 still used in modern everyday Chinese?
Yes, mostly in farming and gardening contexts, especially the word 锄头 (chútou, hoe). Its figurative sense of rooting out evil appears in set phrases like 锄强扶弱 (chú qiáng fú ruò, to suppress the strong and help the weak).