Meaning of 工具
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- tool
- instrument
- utensil
- means (to achieve a goal etc)
How to use 工具
工具 covers physical tools like hammers and wrenches, and it is also common for apps, software, and any means to reach a goal. 手机是很有用的工具。(Shǒujī shì hěn yǒuyòng de gōngjù.) A phone is a very useful tool.
工 (gōng) means work, and 具 (jù) means an implement or utensil, as in 玩具 (wánjù) toy. Put them together and a 工具 is a thing you use to get work done.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes write 具 with only two horizontal strokes inside the top box, but it has three, the same as 目 with an extra line. Also keep the tones level then falling: gōngjù, not gòngjù.
工具 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
工 gōng · labor · 3 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
具 jù · tool · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Related words
Words that share a character with 工具.
| 工作 | gōngzuò | to work; (of a machine) to operate |
| 工人 | gōngrén | worker |
| 打工 | dǎgōng | to work a temporary or casual job; (of students) to have a job outside of class time, or d |
| 玩具 | wánjù | plaything; toy |
| 工厂 | gōngchǎng | factory |
| 员工 | yuángōng | staff; personnel; employee |
| 具有 | jùyǒu | to have; to possess |
| 具体 | jùtǐ | concrete; specific; detailed |
| 工资 | gōngzī | wages; pay |
| 工程师 | gōngchéngshī | engineer |
| 家具 | jiājù | furniture |
| 工业 | gōngyè | industry |
Questions about 工具
What does 工具 mean?
工具 (gōngjù) means "tool; instrument" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 工具?
工具 is made of 2 characters: 工 (3 strokes), 具 (8 strokes). That is 11 strokes in total.
Is 工具 an HSK word?
Yes. 工具 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What measure word is used with 工具?
The most common choice is 个 (gè), as in 一个工具. For a set of tools you can say 一套工具 (yí tào gōngjù).
Can 工具 describe a person?
Yes. Calling someone a 工具 or 工具人 (gōngjùrén) means they are being used by others for their own goals. It is negative and a bit slangy, so use it with care.