How to Write 俦 (chóu) — Meaning “companion or mate”

Think of a companion you share meals with for a long time: the left side 亻 is a person, and 寿 sounds like "chow" (food). So picture yourself saying "Let's chow together, my companion!" This links the sound and the meaning of having a long-term eating buddy.

Write the left radical 亻 first with two strokes: a left-falling stroke then a vertical stroke. The right part 寿 starts with a short horizontal line at the top, then a horizontal left-falling stroke, not a full left-falling. A common mistake is making the 寿 part too wide—keep it balanced so the character is not lopsided.

俦 means companion and uses 寿 on the right, while 伯 uses 白 (white) and means elder brother or uncle, and 估 uses 古 (ancient) and means to estimate. Visually, the right parts are distinct: 寿 has a unique top stroke, 伯 has a flat 白, and 估 has a boxy 古. Always check the right component to tell them apart.

俦 is not in the HSK list and is rarely used in everyday speech; it appears mainly in literary or classical contexts. You might find it in fixed phrases like 俦侣 (chóu lǚ, companion) or 朋俦 (péng chóu, friends) in poetry or formal writing. While elegant, learners should recognize it for reading rather than active use.

Common words containing 俦 include: 俦侣 (chóu lǚ) — companion or associate; 朋俦 (péng chóu) — companions; 俦类 (chóu lèi) — peers or people of the same kind.