How to Write 邱 (qiū) — Meaning “Qiu (a surname)”

Picture a small hill (阝) next to a larger hill (丘) — like a double hill. This "two hills" image can help you recall that 邱 is a common surname, and you can think of Mr. Qiu living between the hills.

Write the left radical 阝 first with its three strokes (finish the vertical hook, then the horizontal up-and-down), then write the right part 丘 (5 strokes). Keep the left radical narrow, about one-third of the total width, and the right side slightly taller.

All three share the left radical 阝, but 邱 has 丘 (hill) on the right, 邗 has 干 (stem), and 邘 has 于 (at). 邱 is a common surname, while 邗 and 邘 are rare place names from ancient China, so their pronunciations and uses are completely different.

邱 is a Chinese surname, so you will see it in names like 邱先生 (Mr. Qiu) or 邱老师 (Teacher Qiu). It is not a common word otherwise and is not in the HSK vocabulary list, but it is frequently used in formal address for people with this surname.

Common words containing 邱 include: 邱先生 (qiū xiān shēng) — Mr. Qiu; 邱老师 (qiū lǎo shī) — Teacher Qiu; 姓邱 (xìng qiū) — Surname Qiu.