How to Write 锈 (xiù) — Meaning “Rust”

Imagine a beautiful, elegant metal object (represented by 秀) left outside in the rain until it turns brown and flaky. This image of an elegant piece of metal becoming rusty helps link the meaning to the character.

Write the radical 钅 first with three short horizontal strokes followed by a vertical hook, then the right part 秀 starting with a left-falling stroke. A common mistake is making the 秀 part too wide; keep it narrow and balanced with the left side.

锈 means rust, while 钰 means treasure or jade and 钱 means money. Visually, 锈 has 秀 on the right (a left-falling stroke on top), 钰 has 玉 (jade) with a dot, and 钱 has 戋 (two small lines). All three share the metal radical but have different right-side components.

锈 describes the corrosion on metals, especially iron, as in 铁锈 (tiě xiù, rust) and 生锈 (shēng xiù, to get rusty). A very common word is 不锈钢 (bù xiù gāng), meaning 'stainless steel,' which you see on kitchen knives and appliances. Rust often symbolizes neglect or decay in Chinese culture.

Common words containing 锈 include: 生锈 (shēng xiù) — To get rusty; 铁锈 (tiě xiù) — rust; 不锈钢 (bù xiù gāng) — Stainless steel.