Chinese character · HSK 3
具 (jù) — “tool / device”
Visually, the character resembles a tall, multi-drawer tool cabinet (the top box with horizontal strokes) resting securely on a wooden stand with two legs (the bottom 八).
How to remember 具
A wooden tool cabinet with three drawers sits on two sturdy legs.
Inside the character
- 八 (eight / split) — meaning component. Two lines parting — often suggests division, separation, or the number eight.
- 目 (eye) — meaning component. Often marks seeing, watching, attention, or anything to do with the gaze.
Where 具 comes from
Originally an ideogram showing two hands (now simplified to the bottom 八) holding a bronze cauldron (now simplified to the top box), representing the possession of valuable utensils or tools.
Words that use 具
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 具体 | jù tǐ | concrete / definite | HSK 3 |
| 工具 | gōng jù | tool / instrument | HSK 3 |
| 家具 | jiā jù | furniture | HSK 3 |
Learn 具 the visual way. InkSeal pairs every HSK 1–6 character
with an illustration like this one, plus component breakdowns, etymology, and
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More characters: 册 (cè, book / volume) · 卖 (mài, to sell) · 史 (shǐ, history / annals) — or browse the full character library.