How to Write 铢 (zhū) — Meaning “Zhu (ancient unit of weight); a tiny amount”

Think of 朱 as "red" (cinnabar), and imagine a tiny red metal weight used for measuring precious powders. The metal radical 钅 reminds you that it is a weight, while the red color helps you recall the sound "zhū." This mental picture connects the shape to the idea of a small, valuable unit.

Write the left side 钅 as five strokes: first the short horizontal, then the left-falling hook, then two short horizontals, and finally a vertical line. The right side 朱 has six strokes: a short downward left-falling stroke at the top, then two horizontals, a vertical line through them, and finally a left-falling and a small pressing stroke at the bottom. A common mistake is mixing up 朱 with 未 (wèi, "not yet") — remember that 朱 has a vertical line that goes through the middle of the two horizontal strokes.

Common words containing 铢 include: 锱铢必较 (zī zhū bì jiào) — to haggle over every penny; to be very stingy; 铢积寸累 (zhū jī cùn lěi) — To accumulate little by little; 铢两 (zhū liǎng) — A tiny amount; weight.