How to Write 顾 (gù) — Meaning “To look at / To attend to”

Imagine a customer (顾客) turning their head to look at a page (页) of a menu. The left part 厄 looks like a person bending over, and the right 页 is the page they are reading. This image helps you associate 'to look' with the character.

The left side 厄 should be narrower and sit slightly higher than the right side 页. A common mistake is making the left part too wide or forgetting the hook in the stroke 横折钩 on the left. Also, the top horizontal line of 页 must be level with the top of the left part.

顾 has the left component 厄, while 顶 has 丁 (a nail shape) and 顷 has 匕 (a spoon shape). Visually, 顾's left side has a 'cliff and snake' look, whereas 顶's left is a simple T-shape. In meaning, 顾 is about looking or attending, 顶 means 'top' or 'support', and 顷 means 'a short while'.

You see 顾 in 照顾 (zhào gù, to take care of), 顾客 (gù kè, customer), and 顾问 (gù wèn, consultant/adviser). In Chinese culture, 顾客 is often used in the phrase 顾客是上帝 (the customer is God), showing the importance of service. The character appears in formal titles like 顾问, meaning someone you 'look to' for advice.

Common words containing 顾 include: 照顾 (zhào gù) — to take care of; to look after; 顾客 (gù kè) — Customer / Client; 顾问 (gù wèn) — Consultant / Adviser.