Bamboo in Chinese
The Chinese word for bamboo is 竹 (zhú). The single character for bamboo; the shape of the character itself looks like two bamboo stalks.
zhú
Bamboo
What 竹 means.
Bamboo bends in the wind without breaking and stays green all winter, so it stands for resilience and integrity. It is one of the “Four Gentlemen” (四君子) of Chinese painting, with plum blossom, orchid and chrysanthemum.
- 竹
- bamboo
Simplified and traditional
竹
竹
竹 is written the same way in simplified and traditional Chinese, so every Chinese reader recognises it.
About bamboo in Chinese
How do you write bamboo in Chinese?
Bamboo is 竹 in Chinese, pronounced zhú. Bamboo
How do you pronounce 竹?
Say zhú (second tone, rising). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 竹 different in traditional Chinese?
No. 竹 is written the same way in simplified and traditional Chinese.
Is 竹 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. As a single character it works even at small sizes. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.