How to Write 舳 (zhú) — Meaning “stern (of a boat)”

Imagine a boat (舟) with a long tube (sounds like 'zhú') sticking out from the back — that's the stern. The right part 由 looks like a tube or pipe, helping you remember the sound 'zhú'.

Write the left radical 舟 first, making it narrow. Keep the right part 由 slightly taller than the left, and align them vertically. A common mistake is making the right 由 too wide, which unbalances the character.

舳 means the stern of a boat, while 舡 (gāng) and 舢 (shān) refer to specific types of small boats. Visually, 舳 has 由 on the right, 舡 has 工, and 舢 has 山 — so the right component changes both meaning and pronunciation.

舳 is rarely used alone in daily conversation. It appears mainly in classical literature or maritime terms, especially in the word 舳舻 (zhúlú), which means 'a fleet of ships' or literally 'sterns and bows'.

Common words containing 舳 include: 舳舻 (zhú lú) — stern and bow / a fleet of ships; 船舳 (chuán zhú) — Stern; poop deck; 舳板 (zhú bǎn) — stern board / decking.