救 (jiù) is a Chinese character meaning “to rescue”. It is written from 求 (to seek; to request) and 攵 (a hand holding a stick; marks an action done to something), side by side, and takes 11 strokes.
Build the character for “to rescue”
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Structure
求 + 攵
Left–right structure
- 求 to seek; to request · qiú sound
- 攵 a hand holding a stick; marks an action done to something · pū meaning
Structure from: 说文解字·攴部: 救，止也。从攴求聲（右旁「攵」为攴的变形）
Memory aid
Someone begs for help (求), and a hand with a stick (攵) springs into action — that is a rescue.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
11 strokes
In real words
- 救命jiù mìngto save someone's life; Help!救 = jiù
- 抢救qiǎng jiùto rescue; to give emergency treatment救 = jiù
- 拯救zhěng jiùto rescue; to save救 = jiù
Go deeper
All readings
to rescue
to rescue; to save; to help out of danger
援助，使脱离危险或灾难。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 救命jiù mìngto save someone's life; Help!救 = jiù
- 抢救qiǎng jiùto rescue; to give emergency treatment救 = jiù
- 拯救zhěng jiùto rescue; to save救 = jiù
Sound component
求 family onset shift
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 救 mean?
救 (jiù) means to rescue; to save; to help out of danger.
How do you pronounce 救?
It is pronounced jiù.
What parts is 救 made of?
求 (to seek; to request) and 攵 (a hand holding a stick; marks an action done to something), side by side. The recorded source is: 说文解字·攴部: 救，止也。从攴求聲（右旁「攵」为攴的变形）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 救 have?
11. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 救?
攴. 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 救?
Common ones are 救命, 抢救, 拯救. The reading of 救 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.