邹 (zōu): Zou (surname)

Meanings

他姓邹，是山东人。

Tā xìng Zōu, shì Shāndōng rén.

His surname is Zou; he is from Shandong.

孟子是古代邹国人。

Mèngzǐ shì gǔdài Zōu guó rén.

Mencius was a native of the ancient state of Zou.

history

邹 was a small Zhou-era state in southeastern Shandong, the home region of 孟子 (Mencius). It survives mainly as a common surname today.

radical

阝 yì

city; settlement (right-side form)

The right-side city radical, a form of 邑, marks 邹 as a place name, like 郑 and 邓.

phonetic

刍 chú

fodder; hay

The left side carries the sound, drifted to the modern reading zōu. It also forms part of related characters in this sound family such as 诌.

邹 zōu