How to Write 主 (zhǔ) — Meaning “Master, main, or primary.”

Imagine a king (王) wearing a crown – the dot on top is the crown, showing that the king is the master. This visual trick helps you remember that 主 means 'master' or 'main,' with the dot as the key feature above the king.

Write the dot first, then three horizontal strokes from top to bottom, and finally the vertical line through the middle. A common mistake is placing the dot off-center or making the vertical line too short; the dot should be centered above the first horizontal, and the bottom horizontal is the longest.

主 has a clear vertical line crossing three horizontals with a dot on top, while 丸 looks like a curved '九' with a dot and no vertical line. 为 has a dot and a slanted hook stroke, so it is much more angled and open. Focus on the straight vertical and stacked horizontals in 主 to tell them apart.

主 appears in common words like 主要 (main), 主人 (host/owner), and 主意 (idea). Culturally, it once referred to a ruler or household master, and today you often see it in phrases like 主菜 (main dish) or 主路 (main road) to indicate something primary.

Common words containing 主 include: 主要 (zhǔ yào) — Main, major, or primary.; 主人 (zhǔ rén) — Host or owner.; 主意 (zhǔ yì) — Idea or decision..