主 zhǔ — host, master, main · English

主

zhǔ

host, master, main

At a glance · 主

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

甲骨文、金文象灯焰之炷（·在炷上），象形，本指灯心，引申为支柱、主人。隶楷作「主」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「主」本指灯炷，引申为君主、主人、主宰。

Structure

象形字，象灯中火炷之形，引申为主宰。

At a glance

Pinyinzhǔ

Radical丶

Strokes5

UnicodeU+4E3B

Character type象形

Theme人伦

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English host, master, main Host, master, owner; main, primary.

Français hôte, maître, principal Hôte, maître, propriétaire; principal.

Español anfitrión, dueño, principal Anfitrión, dueño; principal.

العربية سيد، رئيسي سيد أو صاحب أو رئيسي.

Русский хозяин, главный Хозяин, владыка; главный, основной.

Common words

主人zhǔ rénhost
主zhǔmain

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