鼓 (gǔ) - Drum — a percussion instrument & to beat, strike, or play a drum

鼓Tone 3

gǔ ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

鼓 · gǔ

Drum — a percussion instrument;

to beat, strike, or play a drum;

to encourage, rouse, or agitate;

to bulge or swell.

Drum — a percussion instrumentto beat, strike, or play a drumto encourage, rouse, or agitate

Usage highlights

Beat a drumWar drumEncourage and inspireApplauseDrum towerDrum skin

Synonyms

  • 锣— gong (another percussion instrument)
  • 激励— to encourage, motivate

Antonyms

  • 泄— to leak, dissipate (antonym to the 'encourage/boost' sense)
  • 瘪— deflated, shrunken (antonym to the 'swell' sense)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He plays the drum (打鼓) in a band.
  • The general beat the war drum (战鼓) to signal the attack.
  • Her speech encouraged (鼓舞) the team.
  • The frog's throat bulged (鼓起来) as it croaked.

Collocations

  • Beat a drum(打鼓)
  • War drum(战鼓)
  • Encourage and inspire(鼓舞)
  • Applause(鼓掌)
  • Drum tower(鼓楼)
  • Drum skin(鼓皮)

Idioms

  • Beat the drum and sound the gong(敲锣打鼓)
  • Blow the war drum and advance the army(鸣鼓而攻之)
  • Swollen with arrogance(鼓鼓囊囊)
  • Beat the drum to pass the flower(击鼓传花)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Drums have been central to Chinese music, ceremony, and military communication for millennia.
  • In ancient times, war drums were used to command troops on the battlefield, with specific rhythms for advance and retreat.
  • The drum is a symbol of power, celebration, and communal activity in festivals and rituals.

FAQ