具
Character Story & Explanation
具 is widely used in modern Chinese daily life — especially in education, safety regulations, and household vocabulary. You’ll see it on labels like ‘厨房用具’ (kitchen utensils), in school supply lists (学习用具), and official documents such as the PRC’s ‘Fire Protection Law’, which references 消防器具. It appears in the common idiom 工欲善其事，必先利其器 (Gōng yù shàn qí shì, bì xiān lì qí qì) — 'A craftsman who wishes to do his work well must first sharpen his tools' — where 器 (qì) and 具 overlap in meaning. This reflects its enduring association with functional implements.
The character 具 originated as a pictograph in early bronze inscriptions (c. 11th–3rd century BCE), depicting hands holding a vessel or container — symbolizing possession and utility. By the Qin dynasty, its form stabilized into the modern structure: two dots (丶丶) above 八 (bā), with 下 (xià)-like base. Though not a pure pictograph today, its historical link to 'holding/possessing a tool' remains embedded in its semantic core.
Hello students! The character 具 (jù) is a foundational HSK Level 4 word meaning 'tool' or 'implement' — but it’s rarely used alone. Think of it as a quiet helper: it appears in compound words like 用具 (yòngjù, 'utensil') or 器具 (qìjù, 'equipment'). Its radical is 八 (bā), meaning 'eight', though here it functions phonetically and structurally—not semantically. Don’t confuse it with characters that look similar; focus on its consistent role in naming physical objects designed for specific tasks.
Notice its eight strokes: start with the left dot (丶), then the short slant (ノ), followed by the horizontal stroke (一), and so on — all flowing left to right, top to bottom. Practice writing it slowly while saying 'jù' aloud. This reinforces both sound and shape. Because 具 often appears in school, kitchen, and workplace vocabulary, mastering it helps you describe everyday objects more precisely — like distinguishing a 'painting tool' (绘画工具) from a 'cooking tool' (烹饪用具).
Although 具 means 'tool', it carries a subtle nuance of 'functionality' and 'readiness for use'. In formal or written Chinese, it implies purpose-built utility — not just any object, but one made *for* a job. That’s why it appears in bureaucratic terms like 消防器具 (xiāofáng qìjù, 'fire-fighting equipment') or educational phrases like 学习用具 (xuéxí yòngjù, 'school supplies'). As you advance, you’ll see 具 also used as a verb meaning 'to possess' or 'to have' (e.g., 具备 jùbèi, 'to possess [a quality]'), showing how meaning evolves across contexts.
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 →