楚
chǔ
abbr. for Hubei 湖北省[Hu2 bei3 Sheng3] and Hunan 湖南省[Hu2 nan2 Sheng3] provinces together
surname Chu; Chinese kingdom during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (722–221 BC); distinct; clear; orderly; pain; suffering; deciduous bush used in Chinese medicine (genus Vitex); punishment cane (old)
forest (林) + foot (疋) = painful thorns underfoot, clear as day
The image is of feet pushing through dense shrubs — the Vitex bushes that gave the Chu kingdom its name. From the sting of thorny undergrowth, the character extended to mean suffering, punishment, and by contrast, sharp clarity.
Words with 楚
酸楚
suān chǔ
disconsolate
钟楚红
zhōng chǔ hóng
Cherie Chung (1960–), Hong Kong actress
隽楚
juàn chǔ
outstanding
头脑清楚
tóu nǎo qīng chu
lucid
马穆楚
mǎ mù chǔ
Mamoudzou, capital of Mayotte
一清二楚
yī qīng èr chǔ
to be very clear about sth (idiom)
不清楚
bù qīng chu
unclear
中俄尼布楚条约
zhōng é ní bù chǔ tiáo yuē
Treaty of Nerchinsk (1698) between Qing China and Russia
口齿清楚
kǒu chǐ qīng chu
clear diction
吴楚
wú chǔ
southern states of Wu and Chu
吴头楚尾
wú tóu chǔ wěi
lit. head in Wu and tail in Chu (idiom); fig. close together
四面楚歌
sì miàn chǔ gē
lit. on all sides, the songs of Chu (idiom)