Chinese Character: 鼓
1. Character Basics
Radical: 鼓/gǔ (drum, beat)
Stroke Count: 13
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Gǔ (Third tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning: Drum; beat; rouse; bulge; stir up
Extended Meaning: To encourage; to throb; to bulge out
4. Common Words
- 鼓励 (gǔ lì) - Encourage
老师鼓励学生努力学习。(Lǎoshī gǔlì xuéshēng nǔlì xuéxí.) - The teacher encourages students to study hard.
- 鼓舞 (gǔ wǔ) - Inspire; hearten
他的演讲鼓舞了大家。(Tā de yǎnjiǎng gǔwǔ le dàjiā.) - His speech inspired everyone.
- 鼓起 (gǔ qǐ) - Summon up; pluck up
鼓起勇气面对困难。(Gǔqǐ yǒngqì miànduì kùnnán.) - Summon up courage to face difficulties.
- 锣鼓 (luó gǔ) - Gongs and drums
新年庆祝活动中响起了锣鼓声。(Xīnnián qìngzhù huódòng zhōng xiǎngqǐ le luógǔ shēng.) - The sounds of gongs and drums rang out during the New Year celebration.
- 鼓掌 (gǔ zhǎng) - Clap one's hands
观众热烈鼓掌。(Guānzhòng rèliè gǔzhǎng.) - The audience clapped enthusiastically.
5. Grammar & Usage
As a Noun:
- 指打击乐器 (refers to percussion instrument): 鼓是一种传统乐器。(Gǔ shì yī zhǒng chuántǒng yuèqì.) - The drum is a traditional musical instrument.
As a Verb:
- 敲鼓 (beat a drum): 他在舞台上鼓了起来。(Tā zài wǔtái shàng gǔ le qǐlái.) - He beat the drum on stage.
- 鼓励 (encourage): 我们应该互相鼓励。(Wǒmen yīnggāi hùxiāng gǔlì.) - We should encourage each other.
- 鼓起 (bulge): 她的眼睛鼓了起来。(Tā de yǎnjing gǔ le qǐlái.) - Her eyes bulged.
Common Structures:
- 鼓励某人做某事 (encourage someone to do something)
- 鼓起勇气 (summon up courage)
- 敲鼓 (beat a drum)
6. Cultural Background
在中国文化中，鼓有着悠久的历史和丰富的象征意义。鼓不仅是重要的乐器，还常用于仪式、庆典和军事活动中。
In Chinese culture, the drum has a long history and rich symbolic meanings. It is not only an important musical instrument but also widely used in rituals, celebrations, and military activities.
古代战场上，战鼓用于鼓舞士气、指挥军队。而在传统节日如春节，锣鼓喧天的场景是喜庆的象征。
In ancient battlefields, war drums were used to boost morale and command troops. During traditional festivals like the Spring Festival, the loud sounds of gongs and drums symbolize joy and celebration.
此外，鼓在中国传统音乐中占有重要地位，无论是戏曲还是民间音乐，都能听到鼓声。
Furthermore, the drum holds an important position in traditional Chinese music, whether in opera or folk music, the sound of drums can be heard.
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
听到这个好消息，大家都鼓起掌来。
Tīngdào zhège hǎo xiāoxi, dàjiā dōu gǔqǐ zhǎng lái.
When they heard the good news, everyone clapped.
Example 2:
老师鼓励学生们积极参与课堂活动。
Lǎoshī gǔlì xuéshēngmen jījí cānyù kètáng huódòng.
The teacher encourages students to actively participate in classroom activities.
Example 3:
新年的锣鼓声增添了节日的气氛。
Xīnnián de luógǔ shēng zēngtiān le jiérì de qìfēn.
The sounds of gongs and drums during the New Year add to the festive atmosphere.
8. Memory Tips
1. Component Analysis: 鼓由"壴"(zhù, drum stand)和"支"(zhī, beat)组成，形象地表示敲击乐器的动作。
2. Sound Association: 与"古"(gǔ)同音，可以联想到古代的鼓。
3. Visual Image: 想象一个人在敲鼓的样子，或者鼓面被敲击后震动的样子。
4. Sentence Memory: 使用常用词组"鼓励"造句子：朋友的鼓励让我更有信心。(Péngyǒu de gǔlì ràng wǒ gèng yǒu xìnxīn.) - My friend's encouragement gives me more confidence.