How to Write 卢 (lú) — Meaning “Lu (a surname)”

Imagine a fortune teller (卜) standing on top of a dead body (尸) to predict the future. This unusual image can help you recall the top part 卜 and the bottom part 尸 that combine to form 卢.

Start with a dot on the upper left, then a downward tick (the vertical stroke) making the left side of 卜. Next write the horizontal hook stroke at the top, then a left-falling stroke (丿) from the left side, and finally a right-falling stroke (乚) curving from the top right. Be careful not to make the 尸 component too wide; the top horizontal hook should be short.

卢 (lú) is a surname and always has the radical 卜 on top with 尸 below. 卞 (biàn) has a dot above 下, meaning "in a hurry" or a surname. 卡 (kǎ/qiǎ) is shaped like a combination of 上 and 下, meaning "card" or "to block". Visually, 卢 has a horizontal hook at the very top, while 卞 starts with a single dot, and 卡 has a flat horizontal line connecting two parts.

卢 is mainly used as a common Chinese surname, like 卢先生 (Mr. Lu). It also appears in foreign currency names such as 卢布 (ruble) and 卢比 (rupee), and in place names like 卢沟桥 (Lugou Bridge). There is no special cultural note beyond its role as a family name.

Common words containing 卢 include: 卢布 (lú bù) — ruble; 卢比 (lú bǐ) — rupee; 姓卢 (xìng lú) — surnamed Lu.