What does 鼓 mean in Chinese?

鼓 (gǔ) means "drum; ,面[mian4]; to drum; to strike; to rouse; to bulge; to swell" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 5.

How do you pronounce 鼓?

鼓 is pronounced "gǔ" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 3.

What HSK level is 鼓?

鼓 is an HSK 5 word on the new HSK exam syllabus.

What words contain the character 鼓?

Common words with 鼓 include 哑鼓 (drum practice pad (music)), 大鼓 (bass drum), 打鼓 (to beat a drum), 捣鼓 (to fiddle with sth), 吹鼓手 ((old) musicians at a wedding cortege or funeral procession).

How do you write 鼓?

You can practice writing 鼓 using our stroke order tool.

鼓 (gǔ), drum

鼓

gǔ

drum; ,面[mian4]; to drum; to strike

HSK 5 New to HSKclassifierverb

Character Breakdown

Radical: 鼓 (no. 207)

View stroke order →

Definitions

(classifier, verb) drum
,面[mian4]
to drum
to strike
to rouse
to bulge
to swell

Classifier: 通 (tòng), 面 (miàn)

Example Sentences

他会打鼓。

Tā huì dǎ gǔ

He can play the drums

Words Containing 鼓

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
哑鼓	yǎ gǔ	drum practice pad (music)
大鼓	dà gǔ	bass drum
打鼓	dǎ gǔ	to beat a drum
捣鼓	dǎo gu	to fiddle with sth
吹鼓手	chuī gǔ shǒu	(old) musicians at a wedding cortege or funeral procession

Related Words

兜揽(dōu lǎn)· to canvas (for customers)

→

咚(dōng)· boom (of a drum)

→

咢(è)· beat a drum

→

哑鼓(yǎ gǔ)· drum practice pad (music)

→

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 5
HSK 2.0: Not listed
HSK Lord study list: HSK 5 list

鼓: New to the HSK lists at HSK 5. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 5 exam

Studying for HSK 5? Keep 鼓 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 5 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.