How to Write 舅 (jiù) — Meaning “maternal uncle”

Imagine your maternal uncle is using a stone mortar (臼) to crush rice, and below him is a strong man (男) helping. This visual of a man with a mortar helps you recall that 舅 means 'maternal uncle.'

Start by writing the top radical 臼: left vertical, then left horizontal, then right strokes, then bottom horizontal. Then write the bottom part 男: first the 田 (field) then 力 (strength). A common mistake is making the top too wide; keep it balanced so the 男 below fits neatly.

All three share the top radical 臼, but the bottoms differ. 舅 has 男 (male) at the bottom, meaning uncle. 舂 has a bottom of 午 above 曰, meaning 'to pound.' 舄 has a bottom that looks like a box with a cross, meaning 'shoe.' Focus on the bottom component to tell them apart.

舅 specifically refers to a maternal uncle – your mother's brother. It is commonly used in family terms like 舅舅 (jiù jiu) for direct address, and 舅妈 (jiù mā) for his wife. In Chinese family culture, maternal and paternal uncles have separate terms, and 舅 emphasizes the mother's side of the family.

Common words containing 舅 include: 舅舅 (jiù jiù) — maternal uncle; 舅妈 (jiù mā) — aunt (wife of maternal uncle); 大舅 (dà jiù) — Eldest maternal uncle.