How to Write 厹 (róu) — Meaning “spear; to trample (archaic)”

Imagine a private (厶) weapon labeled with the number nine (九) — a secret spear that only nine people know about. Alternatively, picture the top part as the spear's three-edged blade and the bottom as the handle. This helps link the shape to the meaning "spear."

Write the top part 厶 first: a horizontal bend (㇜) followed by a dot (点) inside the bend. Then write the bottom part 九: first a left-falling stroke (丿), then a hook (乚). A common mistake is making the top 厶 too wide or the bottom 九 too large; keep the proportions balanced.

厶 (sī) is just the top component alone with only two strokes, meaning "private." 厷 (gōng) adds a horizontal stroke above 厶, representing an arm. 厹 has a complete 九 below, giving it a taller, more complex shape and a different meaning.

厹 is extremely rare and appears only in ancient texts about archaic weapons, such as 厹矛 (a three-edged spear). It is not used in daily life or modern vocabulary, and you will not find it on the HSK list. It occasionally appears in historical or archaeological discussions.

Common words containing 厹 include: 厹矛 (róu máo) — three-edged spear (archaic); 厹由 (róu yóu) — a type of spear (archaic); 厹厹 (róu róu) — appearance of a spear (archaic).