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猢 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
a kind of monkey found in western Chinan, 12 strokes, radical 犭, Very Hard
monkeyunknown, 12 strokes, radical 犭, Very Hard
(hu2) T2
  1. 1a kind of monkey found in western China
  2. 2monkey
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

(hu2)

The character 猢 (hú) refers to a type of monkey, specifically those found in western China. It is commonly used in contexts relating to animals, nature, or cultural references involving monkeys, often symbolizing playfulness or mischief.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Monkeys hold a significant place in Chinese culture, often symbolizing cleverness and agility. In folklore, the famous character Sun Wukong, known as the Monkey King, is celebrated for his intelligence and strength, making 猢 a culturally rich term.

Memory Tip

Imagine a playful monkey hanging from a tree branch, its tail curled like the character's right side. The character 猢 has the radical for animals (犭) at the beginning, reminding you that it pertains to a creature. The sound 'hú' can be linked to the playful sounds monkeys make.

Meanings of 猢

(hu2)
1a kind of monkey found in western China
2monkey
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 猢

Simplified
12Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 猢

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 猢

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a playful monkey hanging from a tree branch, its tail curled like the character's right side. The character 猢 has the radical for animals (犭) at the beginning, reminding you that it pertains to a creature. The sound 'hú' can be linked to the playful sounds monkeys make.

Usage Notes

Avoid confusing 猢 with other animal characters like 猫 (cat) or 狗 (dog), as they are distinct. This word is informal and often appears in literature or conversations about wildlife. Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 'hú', as a mispronunciation could lead to confusion.

HSK Study Tips

While 猢 is not in the official HSK vocabulary, students at a similar level should focus on animal-related words. Understanding the structure of this character can help with recognizing other animal names and improve overall vocabulary.

Cultural Note

Monkeys hold a significant place in Chinese culture, often symbolizing cleverness and agility. In folklore, the famous character Sun Wukong, known as the Monkey King, is celebrated for his intelligence and strength, making 猢 a culturally rich term.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 猢 with 猴 (hóu), which also means monkey but refers to a different kind. It's important to remember that 猢 specifically denotes a type of monkey found in western China, while 猴 is more general.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 猢

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Etymology of 猢

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

animal

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 猢?

Decomposition of 猢

IDS Structure⿰犭胡
Full Character
=
quan3
left
Hu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 猢?

Write 猢

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 猢

猢 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 2 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.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

树倒____狲散.

When the boss falls from power , his lackeys disperse.

Example Sentences for 猢 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
树倒猢狲散.

shù dǎo hú sūn sàn.

When the boss falls from power , his lackeys disperse.
Exercise 1 of 1

Reorder the Sentence

When the boss falls from power , his lackeys disperse.

Tap tokens to build the sentence

Cultural Notes for 猢

🏮Cultural insight

Monkeys hold a significant place in Chinese culture, often symbolizing cleverness and agility. In folklore, the famous character Sun Wukong, known as the Monkey King, is celebrated for his intelligence and strength, making 猢 a culturally rich term.

Word Family of 猢

Words Containing This Character2
monkey
树倒猢狲散Rats leave a sinking ship.樹倒猢猻散
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 猢 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 猢

It is pronounced as 'hú', with a rising tone.