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笏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
笏hùa tablet held by an overseerzg, 10 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #76672, Very Hard
笏hù(old) ceremonial tablet (held by officials at an audience)unknown, 10 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #76672, Very Hard
hù(hu4) T4
  1. 1a tablet held by an overseer
  2. 2(old) ceremonial tablet (held by officials at an audience)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

笏hù(hu4)

The character 笏 (hù) refers to a ceremonial tablet that was traditionally held by officials during formal audiences or ceremonies. This tablet symbolized authority and was used to convey the status of the person holding it, often associated with governance and ritualistic practices in ancient China.

Strokes10Radical⺮Frequency#76672DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The 笏 was an important symbol in ancient Chinese ceremonies, reflecting the hierarchical structure of society and the respect for authority figures. It played a role in Confucian rituals, underscoring the value placed on order and respect in governance.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wise old official holding a flat wooden tablet, which represents his authority. The character 笏 resembles a stylized tablet with a flat top, reminding you of the ceremonial item he holds, and the 'hù' sound can be linked to 'who', as in 'Who holds the power?'

Meanings of 笏

hù(hu4)
1a tablet held by an overseer
2(old) ceremonial tablet (held by officials at an audience)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 笏

笏Simplified
10Strokes
⺮Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 笏

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Podcast: 笏

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AI Study Notes for 笏

Usage Notes

It is important to use 笏 in formal contexts related to historical or ceremonial discussions, as it is not commonly used in everyday language. Be cautious of confusing it with similar characters; ensure you're using it in the right historical context.

HSK Study Tips

Although 笏 is not part of the HSK curriculum, understanding it can enhance your grasp of historical texts and cultural discussions. Students should focus on recognizing characters related to governance and authority at higher levels of study.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 笏 with other characters related to governance, such as 官 (guān, official). Remember that 笏 specifically refers to the ceremonial tablet, while 官 is a general term for an official.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 笏

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Etymology of 笏

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

bamboo

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 笏

  1. 1The meaning half⺮ carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half勿 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaybamboo
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 笏? 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 笏?

Decomposition of 笏

IDS Structure⿱⺮勿
笏Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
勿wu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 笏?

How to say a tablet held by an overseer in Chinese

“a tablet held by an overseer” in Chinese is笏hù

The character 笏 (hù) refers to a ceremonial tablet that was traditionally held by officials during formal audiences or ceremonies. This tablet symbolized authority and was used to convey the status of the person holding it, often associated with governance and ritualistic practices in ancient China.

When to use 笏

It is important to use 笏 in formal contexts related to historical or ceremonial discussions, as it is not commonly used in everyday language. Be cautious of confusing it with similar characters; ensure you're using it in the right historical context.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 笏 with other characters related to governance, such as 官 (guān, official). Remember that 笏 specifically refers to the ceremonial tablet, while 官 is a general term for an official.

Write 笏

笏

Practice writing 笏 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 笏

Words Containing This Character1
笏hù(old) ceremonial tablet (held by officials at an audience)
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 笏 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 笏

It symbolizes authority and governance, often used by officials during formal occasions.

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