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March 24, 2026
霍huò(Huo4)
霍 (huò) primarily serves as a surname in Chinese, but it can also mean 'suddenly' or 'quickly.' It is commonly used in expressions that convey a sense of abruptness or immediacy. In conversational contexts, it often appears in phrases indicating a rapid change or movement.
Strokes16Radical雨Frequency#6040DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The surname 霍 (Huo) is historically significant in Chinese culture and can be linked to notable figures, such as the famous military general Huo Qubing from the Han dynasty. This adds a layer of cultural richness to the character beyond its everyday use.
Memory Tip
Imagine a scene where someone named Huo is sprinting suddenly across a field. The character 霍 has a 'fire' radical (火) on the bottom, suggesting a quick, fiery action. Picture Huo startling everyone with his sudden speed, which helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 霍
huò(Huo4)
1suddenly
2quickly, suddenly; surname
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 霍
霍Simplified
16Strokes
雨Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#6040Frequency Rank
Podcast: 霍
Podcast: 霍
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AI Study Notes for 霍
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a scene where someone named Huo is sprinting suddenly across a field. The character 霍 has a 'fire' radical (火) on the bottom, suggesting a quick, fiery action. Picture Huo startling everyone with his sudden speed, which helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 霍 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings, such as 'huò' meaning 'to obtain.' It is generally used in informal contexts. Common collocations include phrases that describe sudden events or changes, such as '霍然' (huò rán) meaning 'suddenly'.
HSK Study Tips
Although 霍 is not part of the standard HSK curriculum, it serves as a good example of characters that can function as both surnames and adverbs. Students at this level should focus on recognizing the character in conversational and written contexts, especially when discussing actions that occur suddenly.
Cultural Note
The surname 霍 (Huo) is historically significant in Chinese culture and can be linked to notable figures, such as the famous military general Huo Qubing from the Han dynasty. This adds a layer of cultural richness to the character beyond its everyday use.
Common Mistakes
Learners often incorrectly pronounce 霍 as 'huō' with a high tone instead of the correct falling tone 'huò.' Also, some may confuse it with other characters that sound similar but have different meanings, such as '获' (huò), which means 'to obtain.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 霍
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Grammar Patterns of 霍
霍 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 3 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
Complete the Sentence
这名重量级拳击冠军将尝试挑战____利菲尔德的世界冠军头衔。
The heavyweight champion will be given a shot at Holyfield's world title.
Example Sentences for 霍 (10)
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1
这名重量级拳击冠军将尝试挑战霍利菲尔德的世界冠军头衔。
zhè míng zhòng liáng jí quán jī guān jūn jiāng cháng shì tiāo zhàn huò lì fēi ěr dé de shì jiè guān jūn tóu xián。
The heavyweight champion will be given a shot at Holyfield's world title.
2
我们真的不清楚霍滕斯在这中间起什么作用。
wǒ mén zhēn de bù qīng chǔ huò téng sī zài zhè zhōng jiān qǐ shí mó zuò yòng。
We don't really know where Hortense comes into all this.
3
球一下子漏了，使得霍洛韦跑垒成功。
qiú yī xià zǐ lòu le， ， shǐ dé huò luò wéi pǎo lěi chéng。
The ball was bobbled momentarily, allowing Holloway to race home.
4
霍顿的软肋在于他不懂得放权。
huò dùn de ruǎn lèi zài yú tā bù dǒng dé fàng quán。
Horton's Achilles heel was that he could not delegate.
5
我有时会头脑发热，挥霍无度。
wǒ yǒu shí huì tóu nǎo fā rè， ， huī huò wú。
I can have a brainstorm and be very extravagant.
6
他在18个月的奢靡生活中挥霍了533,000英镑。
tā zài18 18 gè yuè de shē mí shēng huó zhōng huī huò533,000 le 533,000。
He blew £533,000 in an 18-month orgy of spending.
7
来自德国汉堡的霍斯特是个名副其实的怪人。
lái zì dé guó hàn bǎo de huò sī tè shì gè míng fù qí shí de guài rén。
Horst, a German from Hamburg, was a true original.
8
霍华德是个很有天分的钢琴家。
huò huá dé shì gè hěn yǒu tiān fēn de gāng qín jiā。
Howard is a talented pianist.
9
索霍区仍然是个靠不住的地方。
suǒ huò qū réng rán shì gè kào bù zhù de dì fāng。
Soho was still a highly dubious area.
10
霍华德想成为流行歌手，但因怯场而心生畏惧。
huò huá dé xiǎng chéng wéi liú háng gē shǒu， ， dàn yīn qiè cháng ér xīn shēng wèi。
Howard wanted to be a popular singer, but stage fright crippled him.
Cultural Notes for 霍
🏮Cultural insight
The surname 霍 (Huo) is historically significant in Chinese culture and can be linked to notable figures, such as the famous military general Huo Qubing from the Han dynasty. This adds a layer of cultural richness to the character beyond its everyday use.
Word Family of 霍
Compounds12
嚯huo4a cracking or snapping sound
藿huo4betony, bishop's wort; lophanthus rugosus
攉huo1to urge, to beckon
臛
鸖
曤
瀖
癨
皬
矐
礭
籗
Words Containing This Character15
霍huòsurname Huo
霍华德Howard (name)霍華德
挥霍huīhuòextravagant揮霍
霍乱huòluàncholera霍亂
霍顿Hotton, Holden, Wharton, Houghton etc (name)霍頓
霍英东Henry Ying-tung Fok (1913-2006), Hong Kong tycoon with close PRC connections霍英東
霍金Hawkins or Hawking
埃因霍温Eindhoven (city in the Netherlands)埃因霍溫
霍夫曼Hofmann or Hoffman (name)
霍然suddenly
霍金斯Hawkins (name)
霍尔Hall (name)霍爾
霍格沃茨Hogwarts (Harry Potter)
霍布斯Hobbs (name)
霍尔木兹海峡Strait of Hormuz霍爾木茲海峽
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 嚯 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 霍
In everyday conversation, 霍 can mean 'suddenly' or 'quickly,' often used to describe abrupt actions or changes.
Yes, 霍 is a relatively common Chinese surname, though not as widespread as some others like Zhang or Li.
霍 is pronounced 'huò' with a falling tone, similar to how you would say 'what' with a tone drop.
