How to Write 遒 (qiú) — Meaning “Strong / Powerful”

Imagine a strong chief (酋) walking confidently (辶) with powerful strides. The chief represents the 'strong' meaning, and the walk radical reinforces the sense of forceful movement, helping you recall 遒 as 'strong and powerful'.

Write the inner component 酋 first (9 strokes), then the radical 辶 (3 strokes) last. Ensure the 辶 wraps smoothly around the tall 酋; the top of 酋 should extend slightly above the 辶's dot, and the bottom of 辶 should align with the base of 酋.

遒 (qiú) means 'strong/powerful' and is used in calligraphy terms like 遒劲. 逋 (bū) means 'flee' or 'owe' and has the component 甫 (fǔ). 逍 (xiāo) is part of 逍遥 (xiāoyáo, carefree) and has 肖 (xiào). Visually, 遒 uses 酋 inside, 逋 uses 甫, and 逍 uses 肖.

遒 is most common in calligraphy criticism, describing brushwork as 遒劲 (powerful and vigorous) or 遒丽 (strong and beautiful). It is rarely used in everyday speech but appears in literary or artistic contexts to praise the forceful, dynamic quality of writing or painting strokes.

Common words containing 遒 include: 遒劲 (qiú jìng) — Powerful / Vigorous (of brushwork); 遒丽 (qiú lì) — Strong and beautiful (of calligraphy); 遒健 (qiú jiàn) — Strong and vigorous.