How to Write 筘 (kòu) — Meaning “Reed (of a loom)”

Imagine a bamboo (竹) frame with a mouth (口) that "knots" (kòu sounds like "knot") threads together in weaving. The square shape of 口 reminds you of the compact spaces (dents) in a loom reed. This connects the sound and meaning to the visual structure.

Pay attention to the radical 竹: write the left part (⺮) first, with both vertical strokes slanting slightly inward. The lower part has 口 placed inside 木, so the 口 should be centered and not too wide, making the whole character balanced and not top-heavy.

筘 (reed of a loom) has a 口 inside 木, while 笄 (hairpin) has 开 (open) underneath, and 笆 (bamboo fence) has 巴 (to cling). Visually, 筘's lower part is more compact with a square 口, whereas 笄 has a horizontal split and 笆 is wider. Their meanings are unrelated — one is weaving, the other two are personal adornment and fencing.

筘 is a specialized character used mainly in textile contexts, like in traditional handloom weaving or in historical descriptions of fabric production. You might see it in phrases like 筘布 (weaving cloth) or 筘齿 (reed teeth), but it is not common in everyday Chinese or HSK vocabulary.

Common words containing 筘 include: 筘布 (kòu bù) — To weave cloth using a reed; 筘齿 (kòu chǐ) — Reed tooth (of a loom); 筘眼 (kòu yǎn) — Dent (the space in a loom reed).