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戽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
戽hùto bale out; to irrigatezg, 8 strokes, radical 户
戽hùwater bucket for irrigationunknown, 8 strokes, radical 户
hù(hu4) T4
  1. 1to bale out; to irrigate
  2. 2water bucket for irrigation
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

戽hù(hu4)

The character 戽 (hù) primarily refers to the act of bailing out water or irrigating fields. It is often associated with traditional agricultural practices, where water management is crucial for crop growth. This character can also denote the tools used for such irrigation tasks.

Strokes8Radical户
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese agriculture, water management is vital, and characters like 戽 highlight the importance of irrigation in farming practices that have sustained communities for centuries. This reflects the deep connection between Chinese culture and agriculture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a farmer using a large bucket (the water bucket component) to scoop water from a well (the radical 戈 looks like a shovel or tool). The pronunciation 'hù' sounds like 'hoop,' which you can visualize as the farmer hooping water out of the bucket.

Meanings of 戽

hù(hu4)
1to bale out; to irrigate
2water bucket for irrigation
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 戽

戽Simplified
8Strokes
户Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 戽

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Podcast: 戽

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AI Study Notes for 戽

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 戽 with similar characters like 护 (hù), which means to protect. This character is more commonly used in agricultural contexts and is less formal than terms found in modern water management discussions. Be careful with the third tone, as it sounds similar to other tones that might change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 戽 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be linked to HSK Level 3 words related to agriculture and water management. Students should focus on recognizing how this term fits into the broader context of farming terminology.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 戽 with the character 护 (hù), which means 'to protect.' For example, saying '我需要一个护来浇水' (I need a protector to water) instead of '我需要一个戽来浇水' is incorrect. Always remember that 戽 specifically relates to bailing or irrigation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 戽

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Etymology of 戽

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

bucket

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 戽

  1. 1The meaning half斗 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half户 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaybucket
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 戽? 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 戽?

Decomposition of 戽

IDS Structure⿸户斗
戽Full Character
=
户hu4
enclosing
斗Dou3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 戽?

How to say to bale out; to irrigate in Chinese

“to bale out; to irrigate” in Chinese is戽hù

The character 戽 (hù) primarily refers to the act of bailing out water or irrigating fields. It is often associated with traditional agricultural practices, where water management is crucial for crop growth. This character can also denote the tools used for such irrigation tasks.

When to use 戽

Learners often confuse 戽 with similar characters like 护 (hù), which means to protect. This character is more commonly used in agricultural contexts and is less formal than terms found in modern water management discussions. Be careful with the third tone, as it sounds similar to other tones that might change the meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 戽 with the character 护 (hù), which means 'to protect.' For example, saying '我需要一个护来浇水' (I need a protector to water) instead of '我需要一个戽来浇水' is incorrect. Always remember that 戽 specifically relates to bailing or irrigation.

Write 戽

戽

Practice writing 戽 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 戽

Words Containing This Character1
戽hùwater bucket for irrigation
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 戽 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 戽

It means to bail out water or to irrigate, particularly in a farming context.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 戽?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.