Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
胡hú(Hu2)
The character 胡 (hú) primarily serves as a surname, notably 'Hu.' It also describes non-Han ethnic groups, especially those from Central Asia, and conveys meanings related to recklessness or outrageousness. In informal contexts, it can express surprise or confusion, akin to saying 'what?' or 'why?'.
Strokes9Radical⺼Frequency#3474DifficultyHard
Cultural note
The character 胡 is often associated with the 'Hu people,' which historically refers to various non-Han ethnic groups in China, contributing to the rich tapestry of China's cultural diversity.
Memory tip
Imagine a wild man with a big beard (胡) running around recklessly. The character 胡 resembles a beard due to its bushy, sprawling shape, while the sound 'hú' can remind you of someone yelling in surprise or confusion about something outrageous.
Meanings of 胡
hú(Hu2)
1non-Han people, esp. from central Asia
2reckless
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 胡 means.
About 胡
胡Simplified
9Strokes
⺼Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#3474Frequency Rank
Podcast: 胡
Podcast: 胡
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 胡
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using 胡 in formal situations, as its meanings can vary widely. It is commonly used informally, especially in expressions of disbelief. Note that in some contexts, it can also refer to a winning hand in mahjong, which may cause confusion if not clarified.
HSK Study Tips
Although 胡 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it shares phonetic similarities with other HSK words. Students should focus on its various meanings and contexts, especially in casual conversation or when discussing ethnicities.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 胡 with 和 (hé), mistakenly using it to mean 'and' or 'to complete a winning hand' in mahjong. Instead, remember that 胡 specifically relates to the meanings discussed, while 和 has its distinct usages.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 胡
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 胡, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 胡 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 胡?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 胡 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
胡 = ⺼ + 古. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 胡
IDS Structure⿰古⺼
胡Full character
=
古Gu3
left
⺼rou4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 胡?
How to say surname Hu in Chinese
“surname Hu” in Chinese is胡hú
The character 胡 (hú) primarily serves as a surname, notably 'Hu.' It also describes non-Han ethnic groups, especially those from Central Asia, and conveys meanings related to recklessness or outrageousness. In informal contexts, it can express surprise or confusion, akin to saying 'what?' or 'why?'.
When to use 胡
Be cautious when using 胡 in formal situations, as its meanings can vary widely. It is commonly used informally, especially in expressions of disbelief. Note that in some contexts, it can also refer to a winning hand in mahjong, which may cause confusion if not clarified.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 胡 with 和 (hé), mistakenly using it to mean 'and' or 'to complete a winning hand' in mahjong. Instead, remember that 胡 specifically relates to the meanings discussed, while 和 has its distinct usages.
Write 胡
胡
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 胡 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 胡
胡 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 12 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
关于我们的报道大都是彻头彻尾的____编乱造。
Much of what has been written about us is out-and-out lies.
Common confusions with 胡
胡vs湖
hú
Same pronunciation but different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “surname Hu”?
or
Example sentences for 胡 (16)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
关于我们的报道大都是彻头彻尾的胡编乱造。
guānyú wǒmen de bàodào dàdōu shì chè tóu chè wěi de hú biān luàn zào。
Much of what has been written about us is out-and-out lies.
2
他的头发又长又乱，脸上胡子拉碴。
tā de tóufa yòu cháng yòu luàn， liǎn shàng húzi lā chá。
He had long unkempt hair and a stubbly chin.
3
他头发凌乱，没刮胡子，脸色苍白。
tā tóufa líng luàn， méi guā húzi， liǎnsè cāngbái。
His hair was disheveled, and his face was unshaven and gray.
4
我真蠢，居然被他的胡乱吹嘘给蒙蔽了。
wǒ zhēn chǔn， jūrán bèi tā de húluàn chuī xū gěi mēng bì le。
I'd been a fool letting him snow me with his big ideas.
5
他们在烟雾中迷失了方向，向里面胡乱射击了一通。
tāmen zài yān wù zhōng míshī le fāngxiàng， xiàng lǐmiàn húluàn shèjī le yī tōng。
They were disorientated by the smoke and were firing blindly into it.
6
他下巴上有一小撮胡须。
tā xià Bā shàng yǒu yī xiǎo cuō húxū。
He had a small tuft of hair on his chin.
7
她穿得花里胡哨，这样人人都会对她有印象。
tā chuān de huā lǐ hú shào， zhèyàng rén rén dūhuì duì tā yǒu yìnxiàng。
She dressed flamboyantly so that everyone would remember her.
8
洛维特是个威严的高个男人，蓄着灰白的八字胡。
luò wéi tè shì gè wēi yán de gāo gè nánrén， xù zhe huī bái de bā zì hú。
Lovett was a tall, commanding man with a waxed gray mustache.
9
他是个白人，留着棕色的齐肩发并蓄着小胡子。
tā shì gè bái rén， liú zhe zōngsè de qí jiān fā bìng xù zhe xiǎo húzi。
He was white, with brown shoulder-length hair and a moustache.
10
他喜欢戴金链子，穿花里胡哨的衣服来招人反感。
tā xǐhuan dài jīn liàn zi， chuān huā lǐ hú shào de yīfu lái zhāo rén fǎngǎn。
He liked to shock with his gold chains and loud clothes.
I have a friend whose surname is Hu, and he loves playing basketball.
12
胡先生是我们的中文老师。
Hú xiānshēng shì wǒmen de zhōngwén lǎoshī.
Mr. Hu is our Chinese teacher.
13
这是胡小姐的电话号码吗？
Zhè shì Hú xiǎojiě de diànhuà hàomǎ ma?
Is this Miss Hu's phone number?
14
胡太太常常在公园里散步。
Hú tàitai chángcháng zài gōngyuán lǐ sànbù.
Mrs. Hu often takes walks in the park.
15
胡先生住在那栋楼的三层。
Hú xiānshēng zhù zài nà dòng lóu de sān céng.
Mr. Hu lives on the third floor of that building.
16
我昨天见到了胡小姐，她在超市买东西。
Wǒ zuótiān jiàn dào le Hú xiǎojiě, tā zài chāoshì mǎi dōngxī.
I saw Miss Hu yesterday; she was shopping in the supermarket.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 胡?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Cultural Notes for 胡
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, the concept of ethnic identity is often more rigid and defined, while in China, the term 胡 reflects a broader, more fluid understanding of diverse ethnic groups.
Word Family of 胡
Compounds18
糊húvariant of 糊[hú]
湖húlake
蝴húbutterfly
瑚húcoral
葫húbottle-gourd
鹕húpelican
醐húthe purest cream
猢húa kind of monkey found in western China
餬húporridge, gruel, congee; paste
鶘húpelican
煳húburnt; to char (in cooking)
鶦hú
媩hú
楜hú
箶hú
鍸hú
鬍húrecklessly, foolishly; wildly
鰗hú
Words containing this character20
胡húreckless
胡锦涛hújǐntāoHu Jintao (1942-), General Secretary of the CPC 2002-2012, president of the PRC 2003-2013胡錦濤
胡子húzibeard鬍子
胡说húshuōdrivel胡說
胡萝卜húluóbocarrot胡蘿蔔
胡说八道húshuōbādàoto talk rubbish胡說八道
胡扯húchěto chatter
胡闹húnàoto make trouble胡鬧
胡乱húluàncareless胡亂
胡椒hújiāopepper
胡同hútònglane
胡言乱语húyánluànyǔdouble Dutch胡言亂語
胡须húxūbeard鬍鬚
胡思乱想húsīluànxiǎngto indulge in flights of fancy (idiom)胡思亂想
死胡同sǐhútòngdead end
胡话húhuànonsense胡話
胡来húláito mess with sth胡來
胡桃hútáowalnut
胡萝卜素húluóbosùcarotene胡蘿蔔素
胡适húshìHu Shi (1891-1962), original proponent of writing in colloquial Chinese 白話文|白话文[báihuàwén]胡適
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 胡
What does 湖 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 胡
In mahjong, 胡 (Hú) signifies completing a winning hand. The term is essential for players, as declaring '胡' indicates that a player has won. Understanding this term is crucial for participating in the game effectively.
Several phrases incorporate 胡. For instance, '胡说' (Hú shuō) means 'to talk nonsense', while '胡闹' (Hú nào) translates to 'to make a scene' or 'to act recklessly'. These expressions highlight the character's connotation of recklessness or absurdity.
You can use 胡 in various contexts depending on its meaning. For example, when referring to the surname, you might say '他姓胡' (Tā xìng Hú), meaning 'His surname is Hu.' To express disbelief, you might say '胡说!' (Hú shuō!), which translates to 'Nonsense!' This shows the flexible usage of the character in everyday conversation.
胡 (Hú) can mean several things in Chinese. It is a common surname, often pronounced as 'Hu'. Additionally, it can describe someone as reckless or outrageous, and it is also used in expressions like 'what?' or 'why?'. In the context of mahjong, it refers to completing a winning hand.
In casual conversations, 胡 can express surprise or confusion, similar to saying 'What?' in English.
No, 胡 has multiple meanings, including describing ethnicities and expressing recklessness.
It is pronounced as 'hú', with a rising tone.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 胡?
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.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
