How to Write 骡 (luó) — Meaning “Mule”

Imagine a horse (马) that is very tired (累) from carrying heavy loads like a mule does. The right part 累 looks like a field (田) on top of silk threads (糸), reminding you of a mule working in a field pulling a cart.

Write the left radical 马 slightly narrow and with 3 strokes. The right part 累 has 11 strokes: start with the 田 field on top, then the 糸 silk below; keep the 田 wide enough and the 糸 evenly spaced. A common mistake is making the 马 too wide or merging the strokes of 糸.

骡 (mule) has the right component 累, while 骗 (to cheat) has 扁 (flat) on the right, and 骘 (stallion) has 陟 (to climb). They all use the horse radical 马, but their meanings and pronunciations are completely different. Focus on the right side to tell them apart: 累 looks stacked, 扁 is flat, 陟 has a hill.

骡 is used mainly in agricultural or rural contexts to refer to a mule, often in the word 骡子 (luó zi). It is not part of the HSK vocabulary because it is not common in everyday urban life, but it appears in stories or discussions about farm animals. Culturally, mules are seen as hardworking and durable, but also somewhat stubborn.

Common words containing 骡 include: 骡子 (luó zi) — Mule; 骡马 (luó mǎ) — mules and horses; 骡车 (luó chē) — mule cart.