Learn a Chinese Character - 姑

1. Character Basics

Radical: 女/女 (nǚ, woman/female, indicates related to women)

Stroke Count: 8

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Gū (First tone)

3. Meaning

Core meaning: Aunt (father's sister); paternal aunt; also used as a general term for addressing women

This character primarily refers to the father's sister in Chinese kinship terminology. It can also be used as a respectful term for addressing women, especially in some dialects or in certain contexts.

4. Common Words

• 姑妈 (gūmā): paternal aunt
  Example: 我的姑妈住在上海。(Wǒ de gūmā zhù zài Shànghǎi.) My paternal aunt lives in Shanghai.
• 姑娘 (gūniang): young woman; miss; girl
  Example: 那位姑娘很漂亮。(Nà wèi gūniang hěn piàoliang.) That girl is very beautiful.
• 姑姑 (gūgu): paternal aunt
  Example: 姑姑经常来看我。(Gūgu jīngcháng lái kàn wǒ.) My aunt often comes to see me.
• 姑且 (gūqiě): tentatively; for the time being; for the moment
  Example: 我们姑且相信他一次。(Wǒmen gūqiě xiāngxìn tā yīcì.) Let's tentatively believe him once.
• 姑息 (gūxī): to tolerate; to indulge; to connive at
  Example: 不能姑息这种错误行为。(Bùnéng gūxī zhèzhǒng cuòwù xíngwéi.) We cannot tolerate such wrong behavior.

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of speech: Noun, Adverb

Usage patterns:

• As a noun: Used to refer to paternal aunt or as a general term for young women.
• As an adverb: When combined with other characters (e.g., 姑且, 姑息), it becomes an adverb indicating a temporary or permissive attitude.
• Common structures:
  • 姑 + family term (e.g., 姑妈, 姑姑, 姑母)
  • 姑 + adjective/verb (e.g., 姑且, 姑息)

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the term "姑" is an important part of kinship terminology, specifically referring to the father's sister. This reflects the traditional emphasis on family relationships and hierarchy in Chinese society.

The term "姑娘" (gūniang) has different meanings in different regions of China. In northern China, it is often used to refer to unmarried young women, while in southern China, it may also be used to address married women in some contexts. This shows the richness and diversity of Chinese dialects and cultural expressions.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

• Structure memory: The left part is "女" (woman), and the right part is "古" (old). You can understand it as "a woman from the older generation" or "an elder female relative".
• Associative memory: Imagine a kind and respected aunt in your family, which can help you remember the meaning of this character.
• Phonetic memory: The pronunciation is similar to "古" (gǔ), but with a different tone (first tone).
• Practical memory: Try to use words like "姑妈" (paternal aunt), "姑娘" (girl) in your daily conversation to familiarize yourself with the usage of this character.