How to Write 茁 (zhuó) — Meaning “To sprout / To grow”

Imagine a blade of grass (艹) pushing its way "out" (出) of the soil — that's the moment it starts to grow. The image of grass emerging from the earth directly links to the meaning "to sprout." This visual helps you recall both the components and the meaning.

The stroke order starts with the grass radical (艹): horizontal, vertical, horizontal, then the bottom part: vertical fold, vertical, vertical, vertical fold, vertical — 8 strokes total. A common mistake is making the lower 出 too wide or uneven; keep both vertical folds aligned and the middle vertical stroke straight. Ensure the grass radical covers the top evenly without overlapping the 出 below.

茁 (zhuó) means "to sprout" and has 艹 + 出; it is used in words like 茁壮 (healthy and strong). 兹 (zī) means "this" or "now" and has 丷 + 丝 (silk), not related to plants. 艻 (lè) is rare and means a type of grass; it looks like 艹 + 力, with a simple bottom unlike 茁's complex 出. Focus on the bottom part: 茁 has "出" while the others do not.

茁 is most commonly used in the word 茁壮 (zhuó zhuàng), describing children, plants, or young animals as "healthy and strong" or "thriving." For example, parents might say a child is growing 茁壮 — meaning they are developing well both physically and in spirit. The character carries a positive, energetic feeling of vigorous growth, often used in agricultural or family contexts.

Common words containing 茁 include: 茁壮 (zhuó zhuàng) — Healthy and strong; 茁实 (zhuó shí) — Sturdy and robust; 茁长 (zhuó zhǎng) — To grow vigorously.