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扈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
扈hùsurname Huunknown, 11 strokes, radical 户, rank #52270, Very Hard
扈hùescort, retinue; insolentnr, 11 strokes, radical 户, rank #52270, Very Hard
hù(Hu4) T4
  1. 1surname Hu
  2. 2escort, retinue; insolent
Also a Chinese surname, Hu — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

扈hù(Hu4)

The character 扈 (hù) primarily means 'to escort' or 'to accompany,' often referring to a retinue or group of attendants. It can also imply a sense of insolence or arrogance in certain contexts. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in historical or literary texts.

Strokes11Radical户Frequency#52270DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In ancient China, the concept of having an escort or retinue was significant for nobility and officials, reflecting their status and power. This practice is often depicted in traditional Chinese art and literature, emphasizing respect and hierarchy.

Memory Tip

Imagine a royal procession where the 'escort' (扈) is leading the way, with attendants surrounding. The left part of the character resembles a person with arms raised, symbolizing guidance, while the right part can remind you of a group of people following behind.

Meanings of 扈

hù(Hu4)
1escort, retinue; insolent
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 扈

扈Simplified
11Strokes
户Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 扈

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Podcast: 扈

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AI Study Notes for 扈

Usage Notes

扈 is more formal and may be used in literary contexts rather than casual conversation. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the fourth tone can change the meaning significantly. Common collocations include 扈从 (hùcóng), meaning 'to accompany' or 'to follow.'

HSK Study Tips

While 扈 is not included in HSK levels, it can be useful for learners focusing on historical texts or classical literature. Students should pay attention to the context in which this word appears and how it relates to the themes of loyalty and service.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 扈 with similar characters due to its uncommon usage. For example, using 扈 in everyday conversation instead of more common words for 'to accompany' like 陪 (péi) is incorrect. Always consider the context in which you use this character.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 扈

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Etymology of 扈

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

Phonosemantic compound. 邑 represents the meaning and 户 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

city

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 扈

Phonosemantic compound. 邑 represents the meaning and 户 represents the sound.

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

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

Want the full history of 扈? 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 扈?

Decomposition of 扈

IDS Structure⿸户邑
扈Full Character
=
户hu4
enclosing
邑yi4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 扈?

How to say surname Hu in Chinese

“surname Hu” in Chinese is扈hù

The character 扈 (hù) primarily means 'to escort' or 'to accompany,' often referring to a retinue or group of attendants. It can also imply a sense of insolence or arrogance in certain contexts. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in historical or literary texts.

When to use 扈

扈 is more formal and may be used in literary contexts rather than casual conversation. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the fourth tone can change the meaning significantly. Common collocations include 扈从 (hùcóng), meaning 'to accompany' or 'to follow.'

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 扈 with similar characters due to its uncommon usage. For example, using 扈 in everyday conversation instead of more common words for 'to accompany' like 陪 (péi) is incorrect. Always consider the context in which you use this character.

Write 扈

扈

Practice writing 扈 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 扈

Words Containing This Character3
跋扈bossy
扈hùsurname Hu
飞扬跋扈bossy and domineering飛揚跋扈
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 跋扈 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 扈

No, 扈 is primarily found in written or literary contexts, not in everyday conversation.

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