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March 24, 2026
伙(夥)huǒ(huo3)
The character 伙 (huǒ) primarily refers to a group or a partner, often used in contexts involving companionship or collaboration. It can also denote meals, particularly in the context of shared dining experiences, as in the term 伙食 (huǒ shí) which means 'meal' or 'food'. This word encapsulates the idea of togetherness and community in various social situations.
Strokes6Radical亻Frequency#2562DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, sharing meals is a vital aspect of social life, making the term 伙食 (huǒ shí) particularly relevant. Dining together is often seen as a way to strengthen relationships and build community.
Memory Tip
Imagine a group of friends (伙伴 huǒ bàn) coming together around a campfire (火 huǒ) to enjoy a meal. The character 伙 has a visual similarity to a gathering, with the top part resembling a roof over a group, symbolizing companionship and dining.
Meanings of 伙
huǒ(huo3)
1companion; group; partner
2classifier for groups of people
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 伙
伙Simplified
夥Traditional
6Strokes
亻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2562Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 伙
Podcast: 伙
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AI Study Notes for 伙
Quick Contrast
伙 (huǒ) vs 组 (zǔ): use 伙 for informal groups or partners, while 组 is more formal and refers to organized groups or teams.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a group of friends (伙伴 huǒ bàn) coming together around a campfire (火 huǒ) to enjoy a meal. The character 伙 has a visual similarity to a gathering, with the top part resembling a roof over a group, symbolizing companionship and dining.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 伙 with similar-sounding words that have different meanings, such as 伙计 (huǒ jì), which means 'assistant' or 'helper'. It's commonly used in informal settings, so ensure you adjust your language register appropriately. Remember that 伙 is often used with classifiers when discussing groups.
HSK Study Tips
While 伙 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it connects to HSK Level 3 vocabulary such as 朋友 (péng yǒu, friend) and 伙计 (huǒ jì, assistant). Students should focus on using this character in contexts that involve social interactions and meals.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, sharing meals is a vital aspect of social life, making the term 伙食 (huǒ shí) particularly relevant. Dining together is often seen as a way to strengthen relationships and build community.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 伙 with similar characters, such as 伙计 (huǒ jì), leading to errors in context. For example, using 伙 to refer to an assistant instead of companionship is incorrect; use 伙计 in that case.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 伙
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Grammar Patterns of 伙
伙 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
I was shocked at the audacity and brazenness of the gangsters.
8
一伙暴徒捣毁了警察设置的路障冲进法庭。
yī huǒ bào tú dǎo huǐ le jǐng chá shè zhì de lù zhàng chōng jìn fǎ tíng。
An unruly mob broke down police barricades and stormed the courtroom.
9
持枪歹徒坐上一辆由同伙驾驶的摩托车逃逸。
chí qiāng dǎi tú zuò shàng yī liàng yóu tóng huǒ jià shǐ de mó tuō chē táo yì。
The gunman escaped on a motorcycle being ridden by an accomplice.
10
他是我在棒球场上见过的跑得最快的家伙。
tā shì wǒ zài bàng qiú cháng shàng jiàn guò de pǎo dé zuì kuài de jiā huǒ。
He was the fastest thing I ever saw on a baseball field.
Cultural Notes for 伙
💡Did you know?
In Chinese cuisine, the concept of sharing meals is significant. The word 伙食 reflects the communal aspect of dining, where people gather together to enjoy food, emphasizing harmony and togetherness.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, sharing meals is a vital aspect of social life, making the term 伙食 (huǒ shí) particularly relevant. Dining together is often seen as a way to strengthen relationships and build community.
Word Family of 伙
Words Containing This Character20
家伙jiāhuochap
伙计partner伙計
伙伴huǒbànpartner
伙huǒcompanion夥
小伙子xiǎohuǒziyoung man
团伙tuánhuǒ(criminal) gang團伙
大伙everybody
合伙人partner
合伙héhuǒto act jointly
同伙tónghuǒcolleague
老家伙old codger
大伙儿dàhuǒreverybody大伙兒
伙同to collude
伙食huǒshífood
好家伙hǎojiāhuomy God!
入伙to join a group
伙食费food expenses伙食費
小伙lad
散伙to disband
结伙to form a gang結伙
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 家伙 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 伙
Yes, 伙 is often used in phrases like 伙食 (huǒshí), which means meals or food provided for a group. It's also used in the expression 伙计 (huǒjì), which refers to a buddy or partner, indicating a sense of companionship. Understanding these phrases can help you use 伙 more effectively.
伙 (huǒ) and 夥 (huǒ) are variants of the same character, with 伙 being more commonly used in modern Chinese. Both characters carry similar meanings related to groups or meals, but 伙 is the simplified form that you will encounter more frequently in everyday language.
伙 (huǒ) has several meanings in Chinese. It can refer to meals, as it is an abbreviation for 伙食 (huǒshí), meaning food or meal. Additionally, it can denote a group or classifier for groups of people, and it can also mean to combine or do something together.
You can use 伙 (huǒ) in the context of talking about meals or groups. For example, you might say, '我们一起吃伙食' (Wǒmen yīqǐ chī huǒshí), which means 'We eat meals together.' Another example could be '他们是一个伙' (Tāmen shì yīgè huǒ), meaning 'They are a group.'
伙 (huǒ) generally refers to a group or companions, while 伙计 (huǒ jì) specifically means an assistant or helper.
It's more commonly used in informal contexts, so in formal writing, you might opt for alternatives that convey partnership or collaboration.
