固 (gù) is a Chinese character meaning “solid”. It is written from 囗 (enclosure, surrounding frame) and 古 (old; ancient), one enclosing the other, and takes 8 strokes.
Build the character for “solid; firm”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
StartLearn this character
Structure
囗 + 古
Enclosing structure
Structure from: 说文解字《固》：四塞也。从囗古聲（现代字形拆分囗＋古，已对照 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验 3+5=8）
Memory aid
A frame (囗) sealed on all four sides, with 古 locked inside. Nothing shifts, nothing leaks — 固 is solid.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
8 strokes
In real words
- 巩固gǒng gùto consolidate; to strengthen; solid, firm固 = gù
- 固执gù zhístubborn; obstinate固 = gù
- 根深蒂固gēn shēn dì gùdeep-rooted; firmly entrenched固 = gù
- 顽固wán gùstubborn; obstinate固 = gù
Go deeper
All readings
solid; firm
solid; firm; secure; to make firm; stubbornly, resolutely
结实、牢靠，不容易动摇；也表示使坚固，或坚决地做某事。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 巩固gǒng gùto consolidate; to strengthen; solid, firm固 = gù
- 固执gù zhístubborn; obstinate固 = gù
- 根深蒂固gēn shēn dì gùdeep-rooted; firmly entrenched固 = gù
- 顽固wán gùstubborn; obstinate固 = gù
Sound component
古 family tone diff
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 固 mean?
固 (gù) means solid; firm; secure; to make firm; stubbornly, resolutely.
How do you pronounce 固?
It is pronounced gù.
What parts is 固 made of?
囗 (enclosure, surrounding frame) and 古 (old; ancient), one enclosing the other. The recorded source is: 说文解字《固》：四塞也。从囗古聲（现代字形拆分囗＋古，已对照 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验 3+5=8）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 固 have?
8. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 固?
囗. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 固?
Common ones are 巩固 and 固执. The reading of 固 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.