How to Write 缶 (fǒu) — Meaning “pottery jar”

Imagine the top part of 缶 as a lid and the bottom as the round body of a jar. Picture a clay pot with a handle on the side, and remember that the strokes form a simple container shape.

Pay attention to the left vertical stroke that curves slightly outward; the right side has a shorter vertical line inside the container shape. Make sure the bottom horizontal stroke is longer to create a stable base for the jar.

击缶 (jī fǒu) means 'to strike a clay pot' and is used in historical or cultural contexts about ancient Chinese music.瓦缶 (wǎ fǒu) refers specifically to an earthenware pot, often mentioned in archaeological or traditional craft discussions.

缶 is rarely used in daily conversation today but appears in historical texts and as a radical for pottery-related characters. Culturally, clay pots like the 缶 were ancient percussion instruments in rituals, and the radical is still taught in Chinese character studies.

Common words containing 缶 include: 击缶 (jī fǒu) — to strike a clay pot; 瓦缶 (wǎ fǒu) — earthenware pot; 缶部 (fǒu bù) — radical 'jar'.