How to Write 诅 (zǔ) — Meaning “To curse”

Imagine an ancestor (represented by 且, which looks like a small tombstone) and use the speech radical 讠 to picture yourself speaking angrily toward it. This helps you recall that 诅 (zǔ) means to curse, as if you are directing angry words at an ancestor.

The left radical 讠 should be narrow and written first: dot, horizontal stroke, then a hook turning right. The right part 且 is wider and consists of a vertical stroke followed by three horizontal strokes; keep its top level with the top of the radical to avoid imbalance.

While all three use the speech radical, 诅 (zǔ) specifically means "to curse," whereas 讦 (jié) means "to expose or accuse" and 讧 (hòng) means "to quarrel or cause discord." Visually, the right side of 诅 is 且, 讦 uses 干, and 讧 uses 工.

诅 is rarely used alone in daily conversation; it appears mostly in formal or literary contexts, especially in the word 诅咒 (zǔ zhòu, "to curse"). Culturally, cursing is considered inauspicious, so the character carries a strong negative tone and is often found in stories or historical texts rather than casual speech.

Common words containing 诅 include: 诅咒 (zǔ zhòu) — To curse / Curse; 咒诅 (zhòu zǔ) — to curse; malediction; 诅骂 (zǔ mà) — To curse and swear at.