筹

籌

chóu

寿 + 竹

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

chóu (verb) to prepare; to plan

chóu (verb) to raise (funds); to gather resources

chóu (noun) counter; token (for counting); chip (in gambling)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. ⺮ represents the meaning and 寿 represents the sound. Simplified form of 籌.

Semantic: ⺮ Phonetic: 寿

About

The character 筹 (traditional: 籌) is a phono-semantic compound. Its top radical 竹 (bamboo) indicates the material of the original objects. The lower part, 寿 (simplified) or 壽 (traditional), provides the pronunciation. The word originally meant small bamboo slips used for counting, keeping tallies, or as tokens in games. From the concrete act of arranging these sticks to manage resources, its meaning broadened to include abstract concepts like planning, strategizing, preparing, and fundraising.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们在筹备生日宴会。

Wǒmen zài chóubèi shēngrì yànhuì.

We are preparing a birthday party.

他们筹集了很多钱。

Tāmen chóují le hěn duō qián.

They raised a lot of money.

他在赌桌上放了一些筹码。

Tā zài dǔzhuō shàng fàng le yīxiē chóumǎ.

He placed some chips on the gambling table.

公司需要统筹所有资源。

Gōngsī xūyào tǒngchóu suǒyǒu zīyuán.

The company needs to coordinate all resources.

我们正在筹办一场音乐会。

Wǒmen zhèngzài chóubàn yī chǎng yīnyuèhuì.

We are organizing a concert.

慈善机构正在为地震灾区积极筹款。

Císhàn jīgòu zhèngzài wèi dìzhèn zāiqū jījí chóukuǎn.

The charity organization is actively fundraising for the earthquake disaster area.

团队精心筹划了这个项目。

Tuánduì jīngxīn chóuhuà le zhège xiàngmù.

The team meticulously planned this project.

他暗中筹谋如何提升公司业绩。

Tā ànzhōng chóumóu rúhé tíshēng gōngsī yèjì.

He secretly planned how to improve the company's performance.

Related Characters

Component: 寿

Component: 竹

筹