How to Write 篝 (gōu) — Meaning “bamboo frame for drying clothes or covering a fire”

Imagine a campfire at night (篝火) where bamboo sticks are arranged in a crisscross frame to hold logs or cover the flames. The top part 竹 looks like two bamboo branches, and the bottom 冓 resembles a structured basket, helping you recall the frame meaning.

Pay attention to the top part 竹 — write the left side first as a short slash (撇), then a horizontal stroke (横), followed by a left-falling stroke (撇) and a dot (点), then repeat for the right side. A common mistake is making the bottom 冓 too narrow or tall; keep it balanced so the whole character is about square-shaped.

篝 has the bottom 冓 (a frame) and specifically refers to a bamboo frame for covering a fire or drying clothes. 箅 (bì) has the bottom 畀 (to give) and means a bamboo sieve used for steaming food. 箍 (gū) has the bottom 固 (solid) and means a hoop or band used to bind things together, like a barrel hoop.

篝 is most common in the word 篝火 (gōu huǒ), meaning a bonfire or campfire, and 篝火晚会 (gōu huǒ wǎn huì), a campfire party often held for outdoor gatherings or festivals. The character itself is rarely used alone, but the image of a bamboo frame over a fire is rooted in traditional outdoor cooking and drying practices.

Common words containing 篝 include: 篝火 (gōu huǒ) — bonfire or campfire; 篝火晚会 (gōu huǒ wǎn huì) — bonfire party or campfire party; 点篝火 (diǎn gōu huǒ) — to light a bonfire.