竹
The 竹 radical
Bamboo
Variants: ⺮
Memory hook
Two bamboo stalks with drooping leaves
The 竹 radical (read zhú) means bamboo. The HSK 3.0 data contains 31 characters and 179 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 竹 radical
Study this radical's 179 words with flashcards or a quiz.
The free plan drills 15 words per radical. Upgrade to Premium
Characters with the 竹 radical
31 charactersThe free plan shows 9 characters per HSK level (29/31 characters of this radical).
HSK 1· 4 characters
HSK 1笑
to laugh; to smile
第
-th (used to indicate order)
等
rank, class, grade
答
to reply, to answer
HSK 2· 5 characters
HSK 2笔
pen
筷
chopsticks
算
to count as; to be considered
篇
(measure word for articles, essays, written pieces)
篮
basket
HSK 3· 3 characters
HSK 3简
simple
管
to manage; to look after; to be in charge of
箱
box, trunk, suitcase
HSK 4· 2 characters
HSK 4符
talisman, amulet
笨
stupid, dumb
HSK 5· 4 characters
HSK 5竹
bamboo
筑
to construct, to build
签
to sign
籍
books, records
HSK 6· 2 characters
HSK 6策
plan, strategy
箭
arrow
HSK 7-9· 9 characters
HSK 7-9竿
pole
笛
flute
笼
cage
筋
tendon, sinew (connective tissue in the body)
筐
basket
筒
tube
筛
to sieve; to sift
筝
zheng (a Chinese plucked zither)
筹
to prepare, to arrange, to manage
Vocabulary with the 竹 radical
179 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 竹 radical, ordered by HSK level.
The free plan shows 9 words per HSK level (57/179 words of this radical).
to answer; to reply
to joke; to make a joke
to laugh; to smile
-th (used to indicate order)
rank, class, grade
equal; equality
to plan; to intend
joke
joke; funny story
pen
notes
notebook
to equal; to be equivalent to
to wait until
to wait; to await
simple; easy
simply; downright
to manage; to look after; to be in charge of
to manage; to administer
to calculate; to compute
email inbox; email address
no matter, regardless of
refrigerator
drinking straw
to smile
symbol, sign
to conform to, to be suitable
stupid, dumb
answer
résumé, CV
to manage, to be in charge of
mailbox
nationality
although, even though
building, architecture
finally
repay, reciprocate
writing brush
equal, equivalent
medium, moderate
to make strategic decisions
elementary, basic
just focus on, go right ahead
ballpoint pen
even if, even though
policy
rocket
to look after, to watch over
At one's wit's end, helpless, with no way out.
doesn't count
books
to be a headache; troublesome; bothersome
to estimate, to approximate
to keep; to take care of; to safekeep
sneer; smile mockingly
a good deal, worthwhile
to mock, tease
Why learn vocabulary by the 竹 radical?
The 竹 radical hints at the meaning bamboo. When you meet an unfamiliar character carrying it, you already know part of its meaning before reaching for a dictionary — which is why learners who know their radicals move faster.
How to study: read the memory hook, skim the 31 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 179 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.