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隍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
隍huángdry ditch, dry moatg, 11 strokes, radical 阝
隍huánggod of cityunknown, 11 strokes, radical 阝
huáng(huang2)huang T2
  1. 1dry ditch, dry moat
  2. 2god of city
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March 24, 2026

隍huáng(huang2)

The character 隍 (huáng) primarily refers to a dry ditch or moat, which is often used in the context of ancient city defenses. It can also denote the concept of a protective barrier around a city. In a more specific sense, it is associated with the god who protects the city.

Strokes11Radical阝
Cultural note

In ancient China, cities were often fortified with moats to enhance defense mechanisms against invaders. The concept of a dry moat also reflects historical practices of urban planning and military strategy.

Memory tip

Imagine a dry moat surrounding a city, with the character 隍 representing a large, empty trench. The top part of the character (阝) resembles a raised earth mound, while the bottom part (黄) can remind you of the golden color of dry earth. Think of 'huáng' as 'huang' (yellow), linking the color of dry soil to the dry moat.

Meanings of 隍

huáng(huang2)
1dry ditch, dry moat
2god of city
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 隍

隍Simplified
11Strokes
阝Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 隍

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Podcast: 隍

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AI Study Notes for 隍

Usage Notes

Ensure to use 隍 in contexts related to historical or architectural discussions about cities and defenses. It's not commonly used in everyday conversation, and using it in informal contexts may confuse listeners. Be mindful of the tone; it’s pronounced with a rising tone (huáng), which can change the meaning if mispronounced.

HSK Study Tips

While 隍 is not an HSK level word, students at this level should focus on recognizing characters related to city and geography. Connecting it to related words like 城 (chéng, city) or 堡 (bǎo, fortress) can be helpful for memory retention.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 隍 with similar characters like 壕 (háo) which means 'moat' but does not imply 'dry'. For example, saying '我住在一个壕' (I live in a moat) would be incorrect if referring to a dry moat, which should use 隍 instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 隍

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Etymology of 隍

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

place

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

Origin

隍 = 阝 + 皇. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 隍

IDS Structure⿰阝皇
隍Full character
=
阝yi4
left
皇Huang2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 隍?

How to say dry ditch, dry moat in Chinese

“dry ditch, dry moat” in Chinese is隍huáng

The character 隍 (huáng) primarily refers to a dry ditch or moat, which is often used in the context of ancient city defenses. It can also denote the concept of a protective barrier around a city. In a more specific sense, it is associated with the god who protects the city.

When to use 隍

Ensure to use 隍 in contexts related to historical or architectural discussions about cities and defenses. It's not commonly used in everyday conversation, and using it in informal contexts may confuse listeners. Be mindful of the tone; it’s pronounced with a rising tone (huáng), which can change the meaning if mispronounced.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 隍 with similar characters like 壕 (háo) which means 'moat' but does not imply 'dry'. For example, saying '我住在一个壕' (I live in a moat) would be incorrect if referring to a dry moat, which should use 隍 instead.

Write 隍

隍

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

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Word Family of 隍

Words containing this character2
城隍Shing Wong (deity in Chinese mythology)
隍huángdry moat
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 隍

What does 城隍 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 隍

In modern usage, 隍 typically refers to a dry ditch or moat, often in historical or literary contexts.

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