柱
Character Story & Explanation
In traditional Chinese architecture — especially in palaces like the Forbidden City — wooden pillars (柱) are structural and symbolic cornerstones. The Hall of Supreme Harmony alone features 72 massive lacquered pillars, some over 10 meters tall. Today, 柱 appears in common terms like 水晶柱 (shuǐjīng zhù, 'crystal column') in interior design, and idiomatically in 国之栋梁 (guó zhī dòngliáng), where 梁 and 柱 both mean 'load-bearing beams/columns' — together signifying national pillars of talent.
The character is a phono-semantic compound: 木 (wood) as semantic component, and 主 (zhǔ, 'master') as phonetic — though pronunciation shifted from zhǔ to zhù over time. No oracle-bone form survives, but bronze inscriptions from the Warring States period show early versions clearly combining wood and a vertical support signifier.
Hi students! Let’s learn 柱 (zhù) — a character that literally means 'pillar' or 'column'. It belongs to the 木 (mù, 'tree/wood') radical family, which tells us right away that it’s related to wood — historically, pillars in ancient Chinese architecture were almost always made of timber. With just 9 strokes, it’s not too hard to write once you know the pattern: start with the wood radical on the left, then add the right side, which originally represented a vertical support structure.
This character is more than just architectural — it’s deeply symbolic. In Chinese culture, a pillar stands for strength, stability, and foundational support. You’ll find 柱 used metaphorically for people who uphold families, organizations, or even the nation — like 'national pillar' (国柱). Its pronunciation zhù is steady and firm, matching its meaning — try saying it with a strong, level tone (4th tone).
As an HSK Level 6 word, 柱 appears in advanced reading and formal contexts — not daily small talk, but essential for understanding literature, news, and classical allusions. Don’t confuse it with similar-sounding words like 祝 (to wish) or 注 (to pour/focus). Practice writing it slowly: 木 + 主 — remember: 'wood + master' = something that *supports like a master*.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
Your First Step into Chinese Culture: Get a Chinese Name
Every journey into Chinese begins with a name. Use our free Chinese name generator to create a meaningful, personalized Chinese name that fits you perfectly.
Get My Chinese Name →