Definition
轴 (zhóu) is a noun meaning 'axis, axle, shaft' — the central rod around which something rotates. It also refers to a spool or reel (e.g., for thread or film), and in traditional Chinese painting, it serves as a classifier for scrolls (一轴画). Be careful: in the compound 压轴 (yāzhòu, with 4th tone), it means 'the last performance' — that's a different pronunciation and sense not covered here.
char.
axisaxleshaftspoolreelroller
classifier
for scrolls of paintings or calligraphy
Examples
- 轴，。Chēlún de zhóu huài le, xūyào xiūlǐ.The wheel's axle is broken and needs repair.
- 轴。Tā bǎ xiàn rào zài zhóu shàng.She wound the thread onto the spool.
- 轴。Qiáng shàng guà zhe yì zhóu shānshuǐ huà.A landscape scroll hangs on the wall.
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