故 (gù) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 故 (gù) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 故 (gù) means "Reason, old, or deceased". It is an HSK Level 2 character, with 9 strokes and the radical 攵.

Q: How do you write 故 stroke by stroke?

故 has 9 strokes. The radical is 攵. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 故 and 攸?

故 (gù) and 攸 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 故?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 攵. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 故?

Common words containing 故 include: 故事 (gù shì) — Story; 故意 (gù yì) — Intentionally; on purpose; 故乡 (gù xiāng) — Hometown.

How to Write 故

The character 故 (gù) is written with 9 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 攵 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

故 is pronounced gù in Mandarin Chinese. It means Reason, old, or deceased.

As an HSK Level 2 character, 故 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 故

故事 gù shì

Story

故意 gù yì

Intentionally; on purpose

故乡 gù xiāng

Hometown

Example Sentences

我喜欢听故事。

wǒ xǐ huān tīng gù shì

I like listening to stories.

他不是故意的。

tā bú shì gù yì de

He didn't do it on purpose.

我的故乡很美。

wǒ de gù xiāng hěn měi

My hometown is beautiful.

Similar Characters

攸 yōu

改 gǎi

攻 gōng

Practice Writing 故 (gù)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 故 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 故

What does 故 (gù) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 故 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 故 and 攸?

What mistakes do learners make writing 故?

What common words use 故?

How to Write 故 (gù)