How to Write 鞠 (jū) — Meaning “To bow”

Imagine a person wearing a leather (革) coat who bends forward to bow — the right side 匊 looks like a person bending at the waist. The sound 'jū' can be linked to 'jump,' but remember a bow is a respectful jump of the body.

The right side 匊 is written with a wrap (勹) first, then 米 (rice) inside — do not reverse this order. Keep the left 革 narrower and the right side wider to balance the 17 strokes. A common mistake is making the 米 too big or misplacing the dot.

All three use the radical 革, but the right side changes the meaning. 鞠 has 匊 and is used for bowing (鞠躬) and ancient football (蹴鞠). 鞋 has 圭 and means 'shoe.' 鞍 has 安 and means 'saddle.' Visually, the right side of 鞠 looks like a wrapped bundle, not simple lines.

鞠 appears mainly in 鞠躬 (jū gōng, to bow), a common gesture of respect in East Asian cultures. The idiom 鞠躬尽瘁 (jū gōng jìn cuì) means 'to give one’s all until death,' often used to describe dedication. 蹴鞠 is a historical term for ancient Chinese football, a forerunner of modern soccer.

Common words containing 鞠 include: 鞠躬 (jū gōng) — To bow; 鞠躬尽瘁 (jū gōng jìn cuì) — To give one's all until death; 蹴鞠 (cù jū) — Cuju (ancient Chinese football).