drum

JLPT N5 13 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character primarily means "drum" and refers to the musical instrument. It is commonly used in contexts involving music, festivals, or traditional performances. Besides the literal meaning, is also used as a verb meaning "to beat" or "to drum". Additionally, it appears in figurative expressions related to encouragement or motivation, such as 鼓励 (gǔlì), meaning "to encourage".

Common Collocations

  • (gǔ shēng): drum sound; used to describe the sound of drums in events or ceremonies.
  • (qiāo gǔ): to beat the drum; a common action in musical or celebratory contexts.
  • 鼓励 (gǔlì): to encourage; used in both spoken and written language to express support or motivation.

Usage Notes

When is used as a noun, it usually refers to a physical drum. As a verb, it often appears with objects like 鼓掌 (to applaud) or 鼓励 (to encourage). Be careful not to confuse with similar sounding words like (bone) or (ancient). The character is often found in cultural or artistic contexts, so understanding its use can enrich your vocabulary related to music and emotional expression.

Example Sentences

He beats the drum to liven up the festival.

When the drum sounds, everyone starts dancing.

He encouraged me to face difficulties bravely.