竹 Bamboo in Chinese (zhú)

Dictionary Summary

竹 (zhú) means (bound form) bamboo; Kangxi radical 118. Simplified form has 6 strokes under radical 竹.

Pinyin & Tonezhú (Tone 2)

Simplified / Trad.竹 / 竹

Radical竹

Total Strokes6 strokes

StructureLeft–Right (twin bamboo stalks)

Unicode / LevelU+7AF9 · HSK 4

Native Naming & Tattoo Safety Review

🪪 Using “竹” in a Chinese Name · Highly Recommended (Unisex)

Symbol of integrity, resilience, and scholarly elegance (one of the Four Gentlemen in Chinese art). Gorgeous in modern names like 筠竹, 若竹, 清竹.

✒️ Using “竹” for a Tattoo · Safe & Classic

Culturally refined and poetic—represents bending without breaking in the wind.

Character Etymology & CC-CEDICT Meanings

Origin & Visual Logic: Pictograph of twin bamboo stalks with drooping leafy tips.

Traditional / Simplified	Pinyin	CC-CEDICT Definitions
竹 / 竹	zhú	(bound form) bamboo; Kangxi radical 118

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

Common Words & Idioms Using “竹”

Chinese Word	Pinyin	English Meaning
竹子	zhúzi	bamboo
竹林	zhúlín	bamboo grove
胸有成竹	xiōngyǒu-chéngzhú	well-prepared and confident

English Names Using “竹” in Our Curated Recommendations

See how native speakers pair 竹 (zhú) into modern Chinese names:

陈欣竹Chloe (Chén Xīn zhú)林智竹Hazel (Lín Zhì zhú)林嘉竹Laura (Lín Jiā zhú)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does the Chinese character "竹" (zhú) have?

"竹" has 6 strokes in Simplified Chinese. Its primary dictionary radical is 竹, and you can animate or practice writing every stroke in order using the interactive grid on this page.

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

Rating: Highly Recommended (Unisex). Symbol of integrity, resilience, and scholarly elegance (one of the Four Gentlemen in Chinese art). Gorgeous in modern names like 筠竹, 若竹, 清竹.