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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

HSK 2
谁是这家店的主人？
Shéi shì zhèjiā diàn de zhǔrén?
Who is the owner of this shop?
HSK 2
主要原因是什么？
Zhǔyào yuányīn shì shénme?
What is the main reason?
HSK 3
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