土 Earth in Chinese (tǔ)

Dictionary Summary

土 (tǔ) means surname Tu; Tu ethnic group; earth. Simplified form has 3 strokes under radical 土.

Pinyin & Tonetǔ (Tone 3)

Simplified / Trad.土 / 土

Radical土

Total Strokes3 strokes

StructureTop–Bottom (十 + 一)

Unicode / LevelU+571F · HSK 3

Native Naming & Tattoo Safety Review

🪪 Using “土” in a Chinese Name · Use with Caution (Neutral / Surname)

Strongly avoid using 土 in a personal Chinese name! In modern slang, 土 literally means 'unfashionable, tacky, or bumpkin'. Even when balancing Five Elements, native speakers use 坤, 培, or 城 instead.

✒️ Using “土” for a Tattoo · Caution Alone

High risk! Tattooing 土 alone literally reads 'tacky/uncool' or 'dirt' to modern Chinese readers.

Character Etymology & CC-CEDICT Meanings

Origin & Visual Logic: A clod or mound of earth resting upon the ground horizon line.

Traditional / Simplified	Pinyin	CC-CEDICT Definitions
土 / 土	Tǔ	surname Tu; Tu ethnic group
土 / 土	tǔ	earth; dust; clay

Lexical entries derived from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Make Me a Hanzi (APL / LGPL-3.0).

Common Words & Idioms Using “土”

Chinese Word	Pinyin	English Meaning
土地	tǔdì	land and territory
故土	gùtǔ	homeland; native soil
净土	jìngtǔ	pure land; sanctuary

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does the Chinese character "土" (tǔ) have?

"土" has 3 strokes in Simplified Chinese. Its primary dictionary radical is 土, and you can animate or practice writing every stroke in order using the interactive grid on this page.

Is "土" good to use in a real Chinese name?

Rating: Use with Caution (Neutral / Surname). Strongly avoid using 土 in a personal Chinese name! In modern slang, 土 literally means 'unfashionable, tacky, or bumpkin'. Even when balancing Five Elements, native speakers use 坤, 培, or 城 instead.