Chinese Character: 纠
1. Character Basics
Radical: 纟 (sī)
Stroke Count: 5
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jiū (1st tone)
3. Meaning
correct, rectify, investigate, gather, twist
4. Common Words
- 纠正 (jiū zhèng) - correct, rectify
- 纠纷 (jiū fēn) - dispute, conflict
- 纠结 (jiū jié) - tangled, confused
- 纠缠 (jiū chán) - pester,纠缠
- 纠察 (jiū chá) - inspect, supervise
- 纠集 (jiū jí) - gather, assemble
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Verb
Usage Patterns:
- As a transitive verb: 纠正错误 (jiū zhèng cuò wù) - correct mistakes
- In noun form (when combined): 发生纠纷 (fā shēng jiū fēn) - have a dispute
- In adjective form (when combined): 心情纠结 (xīn qíng jiū jié) - tangled mood
- In idiomatic expressions: 纠缠不清 (jiū chán bù qīng) - pester endlessly
Collocations:
- 与表示负面情况的词搭配：纠正偏差 (jiū zhèng piān chā) - correct deviation
- 与法律或管理相关：纠察队 (jiū chá duì) - inspection team
- 与情感状态相关：纠结不已 (jiū jié bù yǐ) - extremely confused
6. Cultural Background
The character "纠" has a long history in Chinese language and culture. Its original meaning was related to twisting or winding threads, which is reflected in its radical "纟" (silk radical).
Over time, the meaning of "纠" expanded to include the concepts of correction and rectification, which are important values in Chinese society. The emphasis on correcting errors and maintaining order is deeply rooted in Confucian philosophy, which stresses self-improvement and social harmony.
In traditional Chinese legal and administrative systems, officials were expected to "纠察" (supervise and correct) improper behavior. This concept continues to influence modern Chinese governance and social norms.
The character "纠" also appears in many idioms and proverbs, reflecting its significance in Chinese thought. For example, "有错必纠" (yǒu cuò bì jiū) means "if there is a mistake, it must be corrected," emphasizing the importance of accountability.
7. Example Sentence
Chinese: 老师帮助学生纠正发音错误。
Pinyin: Lǎo shī bāng zhù xué shēng jiū zhèng fā yīn cuò wù.
Translation: The teacher helps students correct their pronunciation errors.
8. Memory Tips
The character "纠" is composed of "纟" (sī), the silk radical, and a simplified form of "丩" which represents twisting or winding.
A helpful mnemonic: Imagine threads (纟) being twisted or gathered together (丩). This connects to the original meaning of "纠" as "to twist" or "to gather," which later extended to "to correct" or "to rectify."
Another way to remember: The character looks like someone gathering or organizing threads, which can help you recall its meanings related to bringing order to something that is tangled or incorrect.