(zhòu)

6 strokesTrad.

Zhou, pejorative name given posthumously to the last king…

Stroke order animation

Character information

Pinyin
zhòu
Meaning
Zhou, pejorative name given posthumously to the last king of the Shang dynasty, King Zhou of Shang 商纣王 (the name refers to a crupper 纣, the piece of horse tack most likely to be soiled by the horse)
Strokes
6
HSK level
Traditional

Origin & structure

Where comes from and how its parts fit together.

Phonetic-semantic compound⿰纟寸

In this compound, the meaning comes from (thread); supplies the sound.

One part carries the meaning, the other suggests the sound.

Made of

Parts are arranged left to right.

How to write step by step

6 strokes — each frame adds one stroke, shown in dark ink over the lighter ones.

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Words with

Common words using — tap any character to open its stroke-order page.

zhòuxīn

Zhou Xin (c. 11th century BC), last king of the Shang dynasty

Open 纣辛 page →

King Zhou of Shang (11th century BC), notorious as a cruel tyrant

Open 商纣王 page →

lit. helping tyrant Zhou 商纣王 in his oppression (idiom)

Open 助纣为虐 page →

Related characters

Ready to master 纣?

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