枸 (gōu) — bent, crooked (archaic/rare)

Definition

枸 (gōu) is a rare bound form used in old or set compounds like 枸偻 ('hunched back'); on its own it means 'bent, crooked' in archaic usage.

bound form
bentcrooked (archaic/rare)
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，枸偻。
    Tā nián jì dà le, bèi dōu gōu lǚ le.
    He is old, and his back is hunched.
  • 枸偻。
    Zhè zhòng shù cháng dé gōu lǚ bù zhí.
    This kind of tree grows crooked and not straight.
  • 枸。
    Gǔ dài wén xiàn zhōng cháng yòng gōu zì biǎo shì wān qū.
    In ancient texts, the character 枸 is often used to mean bent.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
句
句jù枸
Same sound today

枸 pairs 木 (wood/tree) with 句, which supplies the sound.

Appears in
Shapes

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