顾
Character Story & Explanation
顾 is widely used in contemporary Chinese across contexts: service industries (e.g., 顾客服务 ‘customer service’), public policy (e.g., 兼顾 ‘to take both into account’), and daily expressions like 你别顾着玩！(‘Don’t just keep playing!’). A well-documented idiom is 三顾茅庐 (sān gù máo lú), from the 3rd-century Romance of the Three Kingdoms—referring to Liu Bei visiting Zhuge Liang three times to recruit him, symbolizing earnest respect and careful consideration.
The character first appeared in bronze inscriptions (c. 11th–3rd century BCE) as a pictograph showing a person (亻) with a prominent head (页), emphasizing ‘turning to look.’ Unlike later simplifications, its core visual logic has remained stable for over 2,500 years—making it a rare example of enduring semantic transparency in modern script.
Hi students! Let’s learn 顾 (gù), a Level 3 HSK character with 10 strokes and the ‘page’ radical (页). Don’t be misled—the radical isn’t about books here! It originally related to the head or face in ancient script, and 顾 literally meant ‘to turn one’s head to look back.’ This physical act evolved into rich abstract meanings: paying attention, caring for someone, or considering something carefully.
In modern usage, 顾 carries warmth and responsibility. When you say 顾客 (gùkè), you’re not just naming a ‘customer’—you’re acknowledging someone worthy of attention and service. Similarly, 顾虑 (gùlǜ) means ‘concern’ or ‘misgiving,’ showing how deeply this character ties perception to emotional weight. It’s never passive—it always implies active mental or practical engagement.
Notice its structure: left side is 亻(a person), right side is 页 (head/face). So visually, it’s ‘a person turning their head’—a perfect mnemonic! Pronounce it with the fourth tone (gù), like saying ‘goo’ while frowning slightly. It appears in formal and everyday speech alike—from business meetings (‘We must consider all factors’) to family talk (‘Don’t worry—I’ll take care of it!’).
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 →