轴

軸
zhóu
noun #10,086

Measure Word

一根轴 gēn

Meanings

  1. 1 axis; axle
  2. 2 spool; roller (for scrolls)
  3. 3 classifier for calligraphy scrolls

Examples

HSK 6
Chēlún rào zhe zhóu xuánzhuǎn.
The wheel rotates around the axle.
HSK 7-9
Zhè fú huà zhuāngbiǎo zài yī gēn zhóu shàng.
This painting is mounted on a scroll roller.

Tips

usage
轴 has two pronunciations: zhóu (axis, axle, spool) is the main reading; zhòu appears only in the theatrical term 压轴戏 (the penultimate act).

Components

radical
车 chē
cart; vehicle
Cart radical on the left, simplified form of 車. It pictures a cart seen from above with its central axle. An axle is the part the cart turns on, so the radical names the larger object 轴 is a piece of. Same family: 转 turn, 轮 wheel.
phonetic
由 yóu
from; through
Right side 由 supplies the sound - yóu shifted to zhóu in 轴's reading. There's a faint semantic echo (the axle is the rod the wheel runs 'through'), but treat 由 here primarily as the phonetic clue. Same shape sits in 抽 to draw out, 油 oil, 袖 sleeve.

Stroke Order

轴 zhóu