Meanings of 壺
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About 壺
Podcast: 壺
Podcast: 壺
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AI Study Notes for 壺
壶 (hú, pot) vs 瓶 (píng, bottle) — use 壶 for wider-mouthed containers, while 瓶 refers to narrow-necked containers.
壺 is used more in informal contexts, especially in conversation about cooking or home decor. Common collocations include '茶壺' (cháhú - teapot) or '酒壺' (jiǔhú - wine pitcher). Be careful with tones; the correct pronunciation is hú, not hǔ or hù.
壺 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but it relates to HSK Level 3 vocabulary about containers and household items. Students should focus on recognizing the character in context and associating it with similar words like 瓶 (píng - bottle) or 罐 (guàn - can).
Learners often confuse 壺 with other similar characters like 瓶 or 罐. For example, saying '我需要一个瓶' (wǒ xūyào yī gè píng - I need a jar) instead of '我需要一个壺' (wǒ xūyào yī gè hú) can lead to misunderstanding the type of container needed.
Pronunciation of 壺
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Etymology of 壺
A jar of wine
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 壺
- 1The giveawayA jar of wine
- 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 壺? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 壺
Identify the Components
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How to say jar, pot, jug, vase; surname in Chinese
“jar, pot, jug, vase; surname” in Chinese is壺
壺 (hú) refers to a container, typically with a wide mouth and a narrow neck, used for holding liquids or other substances. It can denote various types of vessels like jars, pots, or jugs, and it may also refer to vases in a decorative context. The character can also be a surname in Chinese culture.
When to use 壺
壺 is used more in informal contexts, especially in conversation about cooking or home decor. Common collocations include '茶壺' (cháhú - teapot) or '酒壺' (jiǔhú - wine pitcher). Be careful with tones; the correct pronunciation is hú, not hǔ or hù.
壺 or something close to it
壶 (hú, pot) vs 瓶 (píng, bottle) — use 壶 for wider-mouthed containers, while 瓶 refers to narrow-necked containers.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 壺 with other similar characters like 瓶 or 罐. For example, saying '我需要一个瓶' (wǒ xūyào yī gè píng - I need a jar) instead of '我需要一个壺' (wǒ xūyào yī gè hú) can lead to misunderstanding the type of container needed.
Write 壺
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Practice writing 壺 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 壺
Compound Meaning
What does 壶 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 壺
壺 generally refers to a wider container used for pouring, while 瓶 (píng) refers to a bottle, usually narrower and designed for storage.
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