How to Write 固 (gù) — Meaning “Solid / Firm”

Picture an old (古) fortress surrounded by a strong wall (囗) that makes it solid and firm. This image connects the meaning of firmness with the visual combination of old and enclosure.

Write the outer enclosure 囗 first (three strokes for a square), then the inner part 古 (five strokes). A common mistake is making the inside part too large or off-center, so keep the inner 古 neatly centered and slightly smaller than the enclosure.

Unlike 囝 (which has 子 inside and means 'son') or 回 (which has a smaller square inside and means 'return'), 固 contains 古 (old) inside. Their meanings are also different: 固 is used for firmness, while 囝 is rare and 回 is for returning or circling.

固 appears in common words like 固定 (fixed), 坚固 (sturdy), and 固体 (solid state). It is also found in idioms such as 固若金汤, meaning as solid as a metal wall, used to describe something unbreakable or impregnable.

Common words containing 固 include: 固定 (gù dìng) — Fixed / Regular; 坚固 (jiān gù) — solid / firm / sturdy; 固体 (gù tǐ) — Solid.