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主

zhǔ
noun HSK 7-9 #997

Meanings

  1. 1 owner; master; host
  2. 2 main; primary
  3. 3 to advocate; to hold (a view)

Examples

谁是这家店的主人？
Shéi shì zhèjiā diàn de zhǔrén?
Who is the owner of this shop?
主要原因是什么？
Zhǔyào yuányīn shì shénme?
What is the main reason?
他主张和平。
Tā zhǔzhāng hépíng.
He advocates for peace.

Tips

usage
主 is extremely versatile: 主人 (host/owner), 主要 (main), 主意 (idea), 公主 (princess), 主义 (-ism), 民主 (democracy). It can function as a noun, adjective, or verb depending on context.

Components

radical
丶 zhǔ
flame
Top dot — the flame on the lamp. The whole char is a pictograph of a lit lamp; this dot is the wick burning above the stand below.
semantic
王 wáng
lampstand
Three horizontals + vertical evoke a lampstand. Visually identical to 王 (king) but here it represents the stand holding the flame, not 'king'.

Stroke Order

主 zhǔ