Chinese Character: 鞠
1. Character Basics
Radical: 革/gé (表示皮革)
Stroke Count: 17
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jū (first tone)
3. Meaning
bow, kneel, bring up, raise, soccer ball (archaic), roll up, wrap around
4. Common Words
- 鞠躬 (jū gōng) - bow, to bow (as a greeting)
- 鞠养 (jū yǎng) - bring up, raise, foster
- 鞠育 (jū yù) - nurture, raise
- 鞠蹴 (jū cù) - kick a ball (archaic term for soccer)
- 鞠躬尽瘁 (jū gōng jìn cuì) - dedicate oneself to the last breath
- 鞠躬如也 (jū gōng rú yě) - bow low, be respectful
5. Grammar & Usage
As a verb in 鞠躬: 向老师鞠躬 (xiàng lǎo shī jū gōng) - bow to the teacher
In compound words: 鞠养子女 (jū yǎng zǐ nǚ) - raise children
In idiomatic expressions: 鞠躬尽瘁，死而后已 (dedicate oneself until death)
Common structure: 鞠 + object + 动词 - 鞠手相让 (jū shǒu xiāng ràng) - yield with a bow
Note: Most commonly used in the fixed phrase 鞠躬
6. Cultural Background
鞠躬 is an important traditional Chinese etiquette gesture showing respect
The character was originally associated with making leather balls in ancient times
鞠躬尽瘁 is a famous phrase from Zhuge Liang's Memorial to the Emperor
In traditional Chinese society, bowing was a common form of greeting between people of different social status
Today, 鞠躬 is still used in formal occasions, such as weddings, funerals, and ceremonies
7. Example Sentence
Chinese: 他向观众鞠躬致谢。
Pinyin: Tā xiàng guānzhòng jūgōng zhìxiè.
Translation: He bowed to the audience to express his thanks.
8. Memory Tips
The character 鞠 consists of 革 (gé - leather) and 匊 (jū - to hold in hands)
Think of holding (匊) something made of leather (革), like an ancient leather ball
The character has 17 strokes
Remember the most common phrase 鞠躬 (jū gōng) which means "to bow"
The radical 革 often appears in characters related to leather or leatherworking