柱

zhù

主 + 木

Definitions

zhù (noun) pillar; post; column

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 主 represents the sound.

Semantic: 木 Phonetic: 主

About

The character 柱 is a phono-semantic compound: the wood radical 木 (mù) on the left indicates it was originally made of timber, while the right side is the phonetic component 主 (zhǔ), which as an independent character means "master" or "main". It denotes a pillar, column, or supporting post in a building, and by extension anything cylindrical or column-shaped, like a water column or the bridge of a stringed instrument. Figuratively, it describes a person or thing acting as a central support, mainstay, or foundational element.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这根柱子很粗。

Zhè gēn zhùzi hěn cū.

This pillar is very thick.

圆柱形的积木很好玩。

Yuánzhù xíng de jīmù hěn hǎowán.

Cylindrical building blocks are fun to play with.

他是球队的支柱球员。

Tā shì qiúduì de zhīzhù qiúyuán.

He is the pillar player of the team.

喷泉的水柱很高。

Pēnquán de shuǐzhù hěn gāo.

The fountain's water column is very high.

这座建筑的柱子是石头的。

Zhè zuò jiànzhú de zhùzi shì shítou de.

The columns of this building are made of stone.

他的脊柱需要接受手术。

Tā de jǐzhù xūyào jiēshòu shǒushù.

His spine needs to undergo surgery.

图表用柱状图显示数据。

Túbiǎo yòng zhùzhuàngtú xiǎnshì shùjù.

The chart uses a bar chart to display the data.

文化是民族的精神支柱。

Wénhuà shì mínzú de jīngshén zhīzhù.

Culture is the spiritual pillar of a nation.

Related Characters

Component: 主

Component: 木

柱