How to Write 龟 (guī/jūn) — Meaning “Turtle / Tortoise (Simplified)”

Picture a turtle poking its head out of its shell: the top stroke is the head, the square middle is the shell, and the hook at the bottom is the tail. You can also think of the character as a "box with a tail" to recall its unique shape.

Write the top part first — a left-falling stroke, then a horizontal stroke, followed by a vertical hook. Then draw the box-like middle, and finish with the bottom hook. A common mistake is making the bottom too flat; remember it curves slightly left like a turtle's tail.

乌龟 (wū guī) means "turtle" or "tortoise" in everyday speech, while 海龟 (hǎi guī) refers to "sea turtle." A surprising usage is 龟裂 (jūn liè), where 龟 is pronounced jūn and means "to crack" — it describes cracked earth or skin due to dryness.

龟 is used in animal names and in idioms like 龟兔赛跑 (the tortoise and the hare) to emphasize persistence. In Chinese culture, turtles symbolize longevity and wisdom, so the character appears in positive contexts like names and artwork.

Common words containing 龟 include: 乌龟 (wū guī) — turtle / tortoise; 海龟 (hǎi guī) — Sea turtle; 龟裂 (jūn liè) — To crack; to fissure (due to dryness)..