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觳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
觳húgoblet, horn; frightenedx, 17 strokes, radical 角
觳húancient measuring vessel (same as 斛)unknown, 17 strokes, radical 角
hú(hu2) T2
  1. 1goblet, horn; frightened
  2. 2ancient measuring vessel (same as 斛)
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March 24, 2026

觳hú(hu2)

The character 觳 (hú) refers to a type of ancient measuring vessel, often associated with the capacity to hold liquids, similar to a goblet or horn. It can also convey a sense of fear or fright in certain contexts. This character is not commonly used in modern language, making it more relevant for historical or literary studies.

Strokes17Radical角
Cultural Note

The concept of ancient measuring vessels like 觳 is tied to traditional Chinese practices of trade and agriculture, highlighting the importance of accurate measurement in historical Chinese society. Such vessels were often used in ceremonies and rituals, emphasizing their cultural significance.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'goblet' shaped like a horn, with fear etched on its surface. The character 觳 visually resembles a 'horn' (horns can be fearsome) and includes the radical for 'speech' (言), suggesting a story where a frightened person speaks about the goblet's strange shape.

Meanings of 觳

hú(hu2)
1goblet, horn; frightened
2ancient measuring vessel (same as 斛)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 觳

觳Simplified
17Strokes
角Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 觳

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Podcast: 觳

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AI Study Notes for 觳

Usage Notes

Due to its rarity, 觳 is primarily found in classical texts or discussions about ancient artifacts. It is not used in everyday conversation, so learners should be cautious about its application in modern contexts. Be mindful of tone; 觳 is pronounced with a rising tone (hú), which can change the meaning if mispronounced.

HSK Study Tips

As 觳 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it may be beneficial for learners at higher levels (HSK 5+) who are interested in classical texts or historical references. Focus on recognizing the character and understanding its context rather than practical usage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 觳 with similar-sounding characters or use it inappropriately in modern contexts. For example, saying '我有一个觳' (I have a goblet) in a casual setting would be incorrect; it's better to use a more common term like 杯子 (bēizi - cup).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 觳

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Etymology of 觳

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

horn

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 觳

  1. 1The meaning half角 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half殳 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayhorn
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 觳? 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 觳?

Decomposition of 觳

IDS Structure⿰⿱⿳士冖一角殳
觳Full Character
=
士Shi4
top
冖mi4
middle
一yi1
bottom
角jiao3
殳Shu1
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 觳?

How to say goblet, horn; frightened in Chinese

“goblet, horn; frightened” in Chinese is觳hú

The character 觳 (hú) refers to a type of ancient measuring vessel, often associated with the capacity to hold liquids, similar to a goblet or horn. It can also convey a sense of fear or fright in certain contexts. This character is not commonly used in modern language, making it more relevant for historical or literary studies.

When to use 觳

Due to its rarity, 觳 is primarily found in classical texts or discussions about ancient artifacts. It is not used in everyday conversation, so learners should be cautious about its application in modern contexts. Be mindful of tone; 觳 is pronounced with a rising tone (hú), which can change the meaning if mispronounced.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 觳 with similar-sounding characters or use it inappropriately in modern contexts. For example, saying '我有一个觳' (I have a goblet) in a casual setting would be incorrect; it's better to use a more common term like 杯子 (bēizi - cup).

Write 觳

觳

Practice writing 觳 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 觳

Words Containing This Character1
觳húfrightened
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 觳 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 觳

In modern usage, 觳 is mostly historical and refers to ancient measuring vessels, not commonly found in contemporary language.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 觳?

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.