How to Write 臼 (jiù) — Meaning “Mortar.”

Think of 臼 as a square stone bowl with a deep hole in the middle. The top and bottom lines are the rim, and the vertical lines inside show the hollow space. This image helps you remember its meaning as a mortar.

Start with the left vertical, then the top and bottom horizontals, then the two inner verticals, and finish with the bottom horizontal. Keep the inner verticals short and centered, not touching the top or bottom lines. A common mistake is making the character too wide or misaligning the inner strokes.

臼 has a wide, open shape with two short vertical lines inside. 臽 looks similar but has an extra horizontal stroke at the top, like a cover. 臾 has a longer bottom horizontal stroke that extends beyond the sides, making it look more stretched.

臼 is not often used alone; it appears in words like 臼齿 (molar tooth) because molars grind food like a mortar. 石臼 (stone mortar) refers to a traditional grinding tool still used in some villages. Culturally, the mortar represents diligence and is a common tool in Chinese kitchens and herbal medicine.

Common words containing 臼 include: 臼齿 (jiù chǐ) — Molar tooth.; 石臼 (shí jiù) — stone mortar; 脱臼 (tuō jiù) — dislocation (of a joint).