Learn a Chinese Character - 骆

1. Character Basics

Radical: 马 (mǎ, horse radical)

Stroke Count: 9

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: luò (fourth tone)

3. Meaning

The character 骆 (luò) primarily refers to "camel" in Chinese. It is also used as a surname (Luo).

4. Common Words

• 骆驼 (luòtuo) - camel
• 骆宾王 (Luò Bīnwáng) - name of a famous Tang Dynasty poet
• 骆马 (luòmǎ) - llama (a South American camelid)
• 骆铃 (luòlíng) - camel bell
• 骆驿 (luòyì) - continuous,络绎不绝 (luòyìbùjué) meaning an endless stream

5. Grammar & Usage

The character 骆 is primarily used as a noun in Chinese. It is most commonly found in compound words, especially when referring to camels or as part of personal names.

Examples:

• 作为名词 (as a noun): "沙漠里有很多骆驼" (There are many camels in the desert).
• 在复合词中 (in compound words): "骆驼队" (luòtuóduì - camel train), "骆宾王" (Luò Bīnwáng - name of a person).

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the camel (骆驼) has played an important role historically, especially along the Silk Road where it was used as a crucial means of transportation across vast deserts. Camels were known as the "ships of the desert" and were essential for trade between China and the West.

The surname 骆 (Luo) is relatively common in China and has a long history. One of the most famous people with this surname is骆宾王 (Luò Bīnwáng), a prominent poet of the Tang Dynasty known for his literary talent.

In traditional Chinese art, camels are often depicted in paintings and sculptures, symbolizing endurance, strength, and the ability to overcome difficult situations.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

To remember the character 骆 (luò), you can break it down into its components:

• The left part is 马 (mǎ), meaning "horse".
• The right part is 各 (gè), meaning "each" or "every".

You can think of 骆 as a special type of "horse" (马) that is different from other horses (各 means "each"). This helps connect the character to its primary meaning of "camel", which is a distinct animal from horses but also used for transportation.