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貨 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
貨huòproducts, merchandise; goods, commoditiesx, 11 strokes, radical 貝
huò(huo4)huo T4
  1. 1products, merchandise; goods, commodities
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March 24, 2026

貨huò(huo4)

The character 貨 (huò) refers to goods or merchandise, encompassing a wide range of products available for sale or trade. It is commonly used in contexts related to commerce, economics, and logistics, indicating physical items that can be exchanged or transported.

Strokes11Radical貝
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 貨 is deeply tied to the long history of trade, dating back to the Silk Road, which facilitated commerce between East and West. This character underscores the importance of trade in economic development and cultural exchange in China.

Memory tip

Imagine a merchant (representing 貨) carrying a heavy load of goods on their back. The character has a radical '贝' which relates to wealth and money, hinting at its connection to commerce. The pronunciation 'huò' sounds like 'what' that a buyer might ask when inquiring about the goods.

Meanings of 貨

huò(huo4)
1products, merchandise; goods, commodities
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 貨

貨Simplified
11Strokes
貝Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 貨

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Podcast: 貨

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AI study notes for 貨

Quick Contrast

商品 (shāngpǐn) - use 貨 (huò) for a broader term encompassing all goods, while 商品 (shāngpǐn) specifically refers to commercial products.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 貨 with similar terms like 商品 (shāngpǐn), which means 'commodity' or 'product.' Remember that 貨 specifically implies goods in a broader sense, often linked to trade. The term is neutral in tone, suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

Although 貨 is not part of a specific HSK level, it connects with other commerce-related terms like 商 (shāng, trade) and 物 (wù, thing). Focus on using it in sentences that involve buying or selling to reinforce its meaning.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes mistakenly use 貨 to refer to non-physical items, such as services or digital products, which should instead use 產品 (chǎnpǐn). An example of a mistake would be saying '我買了很多貨的服務' (Wǒ mǎile hěnduō huò de fúwù), which should be '我買了很多服務' (Wǒ mǎile hěnduō fúwù).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 貨

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Etymology of 貨

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

Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 化 represents the sound. Simplified form of 貨.

Memory hint

money

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

Origin

貨 = 貝 + 化. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 貨

IDS Structure⿱化貝
貨Full character
=
化hua1
top
貝bei4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 貨?

How to say products, merchandise; goods, commodities in Chinese

“products, merchandise; goods, commodities” in Chinese is貨huò

The character 貨 (huò) refers to goods or merchandise, encompassing a wide range of products available for sale or trade. It is commonly used in contexts related to commerce, economics, and logistics, indicating physical items that can be exchanged or transported.

When to use 貨

Learners often confuse 貨 with similar terms like 商品 (shāngpǐn), which means 'commodity' or 'product.' Remember that 貨 specifically implies goods in a broader sense, often linked to trade. The term is neutral in tone, suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

貨 or something close to it

商品 (shāngpǐn) - use 貨 (huò) for a broader term encompassing all goods, while 商品 (shāngpǐn) specifically refers to commercial products.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes mistakenly use 貨 to refer to non-physical items, such as services or digital products, which should instead use 產品 (chǎnpǐn). An example of a mistake would be saying '我買了很多貨的服務' (Wǒ mǎile hěnduō huò de fúwù), which should be '我買了很多服務' (Wǒ mǎile hěnduō fúwù).

Write 貨

貨

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

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Cultural Notes for 貨

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

The concept of goods in Chinese culture often emphasizes quality and authenticity, whereas Western cultures may prioritize convenience and branding.

Word Family of 貨

Words containing this character20
货huògoods貨
货车huòchētruck貨車
货币huòbìcurrency貨幣
蠢货blockhead蠢貨
期货abbr. for 期貨合約|期货合约[qī​huò​hé​yuē], futures contract (finance)期貨
货物huòwùgoods貨物
现货available item現貨
贱货bitch賤貨
百货bǎihuògeneral merchandise百貨
货运huòyùncargo貨運
送货to deliver goods送貨
杂货店grocery store雜貨店
供货to supply goods供貨
通货膨胀tōnghuòpéngzhànginflation通貨膨脹
存货stock存貨
进货to acquire stock進貨
退货to return merchandise退貨
交货to deliver goods交貨
货色goods貨色
货真价实genuine goods at fair prices貨真價實
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 貨

What does 货 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 貨

You can say '這些貨很便宜' (Zhèxiē huò hěn piányí), which means 'These goods are very cheap.'

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