How to Write 矍 (jué) — Meaning “startled; alert”

Imagine an eye (目) watching a bird (隹) when a hand (又) suddenly appears — the bird is instantly alert and looks around in fright. This visual story helps you remember that 矍 means 'startled' or 'alert'.

Start with the top radical 目 (5 strokes), then write the left part of 隹 (the 亻-like shape) before the right part and the final 又 at the bottom. A common mistake is to make the lower section too wide; keep it compact and balanced under the 目.

瞻 (zhān) means 'to look forward or upward' and uses the 目 radical with 詹, while 瞽 (gǔ) means 'blind' and combines 目 with 鼓. In contrast, 矍 specifically conveys a startled or alert state, often used in the phrase 矍铄 for a vigorous elderly person.

矍 is rare in daily speech but appears in the literary phrase 矍铄 (jué shuò) to describe an old person who is hale and hearty, still sharp and energetic. You might also see 矍然 in writings to mean 'startled' or 'suddenly looking around'. It carries a positive, respectful tone when describing elders.

Common words containing 矍 include: 矍铄 (jué shuò) — (of an elderly person) hale and hearty; vigorous; 矍然 (jué rán) — startled; suddenly looking around; 矍矍 (jué jué) — looking around in fear or alertness.