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堠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
堠hòubattlement, rampartg, 12 strokes, radical 土
堠hòumounds for beaconsunknown, 12 strokes, radical 土
hòu(hou4) T4
  1. 1battlement, rampart
  2. 2mounds for beacons
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March 24, 2026

堠hòu(hou4)

The character 堠 (hòu) refers to a type of fortification, specifically battlements or ramparts, often associated with defensive structures. It can also denote mounds used for beacons, indicating its connection to military and signaling contexts.

Strokes12Radical土
Cultural Note

In ancient Chinese military strategy, fortifications like those described by 堠 were crucial for defense against invasions, reflecting the importance of protective structures in Chinese history.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tall fortress wall with battlements and beacons on top, where the '土' (earth) radical represents the ground and the '后' (hòu) part signifies something that comes after, like a protective barrier. Picture soldiers watching from the ramparts as beacons signal their presence.

Meanings of 堠

hòu(hou4)
1battlement, rampart
2mounds for beacons
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 堠

堠Simplified
12Strokes
土Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 堠

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Podcast: 堠

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AI Study Notes for 堠

Usage Notes

This character is quite specialized and may not be widely used in everyday conversation. It's mostly encountered in historical or literary contexts, so learners should ensure they understand its specific application to avoid confusion with more common terms. Tone is crucial; mispronouncing hòu can change its meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 堠 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it can be beneficial for learners familiar with HSK Level 5-6 vocabulary related to history and architecture. Focus on its components to enhance recognition of similar characters in context.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 堠 with other characters that have similar pronunciations or meanings, such as 后 (hòu, meaning 'after' or 'behind'). Always check the context to ensure the correct character is used.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 堠

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Etymology of 堠

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

earth

Semantic (meaning)土
+
Phonetic (sound)侯
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 堠

  1. 1The meaning half土 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half侯 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayearth
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 堠? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 堠?

Decomposition of 堠

IDS Structure⿰土侯
堠Full Character
=
土Tu3
left
侯Hou2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 堠?

How to say battlement, rampart in Chinese

“battlement, rampart” in Chinese is堠hòu

The character 堠 (hòu) refers to a type of fortification, specifically battlements or ramparts, often associated with defensive structures. It can also denote mounds used for beacons, indicating its connection to military and signaling contexts.

When to use 堠

This character is quite specialized and may not be widely used in everyday conversation. It's mostly encountered in historical or literary contexts, so learners should ensure they understand its specific application to avoid confusion with more common terms. Tone is crucial; mispronouncing hòu can change its meaning entirely.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 堠 with other characters that have similar pronunciations or meanings, such as 后 (hòu, meaning 'after' or 'behind'). Always check the context to ensure the correct character is used.

Write 堠

堠

Practice writing 堠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 堠

Words Containing This Character1
堠hòumounds for beacons
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 堠 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 堠

No, 堠 is mostly found in historical texts and discussions about ancient military architecture.

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