How to Write 杼 (zhù) — Meaning “shuttle (for weaving)”

Imagine a wooden shuttle (木) gliding back and forth as it "gives" (予) thread to weave cloth. This mental image connects the shape of 予 with the shuttle's function of passing thread.

This character has 8 strokes: first write the left side 木 (4 strokes: horizontal, vertical, left-falling, right-falling), then the right side 予 (4 strokes: left-falling hook, horizontal hook, horizontal, vertical hook). A common mistake is making the horizontal hook on 予 too short—it should extend slightly past the left side to keep the balance.

Unlike 朱 (red), which has a horizontal line through the middle of 木, 杼 adds 予 on the right. Compared to 朴 (simple), which has 卜 (divination) on the right, 杼 uses 予. The meanings are completely different: 杼 means "shuttle," 朱 means "red," and 朴 means "plain" or "simple."

Today 杼 is rarely used alone but appears in words like 梭杼 (suō zhù, shuttle) and 机杼 (jī zhù, loom). The term 机杼 also has a cultural metaphor for "creative ideas" or "original literary style," likening the weaving process to crafting a unique work.

Common words containing 杼 include: 梭杼 (suō zhù) — shuttle (for weaving); 机杼 (jī zhù) — loom; creative ideas; 杼轴 (zhù zhóu) — shuttle and bobbin; organization.