Definitions

zhù (verb) to pour into; to inject
zhù (verb) to pay attention; to concentrate
zhù (verb) to annotate; to comment

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. In simplified Chinese is also used to mean "register; comment", while in traditional Chinese this meaning is written with a separate character .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "注" is constructed from the water radical (氵) combined with the phonetic and semantic component "主" (master), a structure that directly informs its core meaning of channeling or pouring water. Its earliest applications were literal, referring to the flow or concentration of liquids, such as directing a stream into a field. From this concrete foundation, the meaning broadened into more abstract territories of focused application, giving rise to terms like "注意" (to pay attention) and "注重" (to emphasize). A significant and parallel semantic development was its use in textual scholarship, where the idea of directing explanation onto a text produced the meaning "to annotate" or "commentary", as seen in the word "注解". This dual pathway of meaning, stemming from a single hydraulic concept, allowed the character to sustain both its tangible and intellectual applications across its history.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

请你意安全。

Qǐng nǐ zhù yì ān quán.

Please pay attention to safety.

册了一个新账号。

Wǒ zhù cè le yī gè xīn zhàng hào.

I registered a new account.

医生给他射了疫苗。

Yī shēng gěi tā zhù shè le yì miáo.

The doctor gave him a vaccine injection.

视着远方的风景。

Tā zhù shì zhe yuǎn fāng de fēng jǐng.

She gazed at the distant scenery.

明你的联系方式。

Qǐng zhù míng nǐ de lián xì fāng shì.

Please specify your contact information.

我们必须重产品质量。

Wǒ men bì xū zhù zhòng chǎn pǐn zhì liàng.

We must emphasize product quality.

投资者关市场变化。

Tóu zī zhě guān zhù shì chǎng biàn huà.

Investors focus on market changes.

这项研究入了新的思路。

Zhè xiàng yán jiū zhù rù le xīn de sī lù.

This research injected new ideas.