嫴 (gū) - Gu — to be cautious, careful, or prudent & to protect, preserve

嫴Tone 1

gū ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

嫴 · gū

Gu — to be cautious, careful, or prudent;

to protect, preserve;

to be lonely, solitary.

Gu — to be cautious, careful, or prudentto protect, preserveto be lonely, solitary.

Usage highlights

solitary livingcautious behaviorpreserving traditionsliving alonecareful planningprotecting oneself

Synonyms

  • 慎— cautious, careful
  • 谨— prudent, discreet
  • 孤— solitary, lonely
  • 独— alone, solitary

Antonyms

  • 莽— rash, reckless
  • 冒— bold, adventurous
  • 群— social, gregarious

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She lived a solitary life (嫴居).
  • He was very cautious in his actions (行事很嫴).
  • They preserved the ancient traditions (嫴守古训).

Collocations

  • solitary living(嫴居)
  • cautious behavior(嫴行)
  • preserving traditions(嫴守)
  • living alone(嫴处)
  • careful planning(嫴谋)
  • protecting oneself(嫴身)

Idioms

  • Living in solitude and preserving one's integrity(嫴居守贞)
  • Acting with caution and maintaining principles(嫴行持节)
  • Protecting oneself in troubled times(乱世嫴身)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • This character appears in classical Chinese texts but is extremely rare in modern usage.
  • It carries connotations of prudence, self-preservation, and sometimes loneliness or isolation.
  • The character combines the female radical (女) with the component for 'old' or 'ancient' (古), suggesting traditional feminine virtues of caution.

FAQ