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华 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
华huásurname HuaHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huáMt Hua 華山HSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huáflowerHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huámagnificentHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huásplendidHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huáfloweryHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huáflowery; illustrious; ChineseHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huáMt Hua 華山|华山 in ShaanxiHSK 3, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huáabbr. for ChinaHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huáin ShaanxiHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huáold variant of 花[huā]HSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huáold variant of 花[hua1]HSK 3, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huàsurname HuaHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huàMt Hua 華山HSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huàflowerHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huàmagnificentHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huàsplendidHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huàfloweryHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huàflowery; illustrious; ChineseHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huàMt Hua 華山|华山 in ShaanxiHSK 3, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huàabbr. for ChinaHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huàin ShaanxiHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huàold variant of 花[huā]HSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huàold variant of 花[hua1]HSK 3, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huāsurname HuaHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huāMt Hua 華山HSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huāflowerHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huāmagnificentHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huāsplendidHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huāfloweryHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huāflowery; illustrious; ChineseHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huāMt Hua 華山|华山 in ShaanxiHSK 3, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huāabbr. for ChinaHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huāin ShaanxiHSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huāold variant of 花[huā]HSK 3, ns, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
华huāold variant of 花[hua1]HSK 3, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 十, rank #3908, Medium
huā(hua1)hua
primary
T1
  1. 1surname Hua
  2. 2Mt Hua 華山
Also a Chinese surname, Hua — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

华(華)huā(hua1)

The character 华 (huā) primarily means 'flower' but also has connotations of magnificence and splendor. It is used in various contexts, including as an abbreviation for China and as a surname. The character conveys beauty and cultural significance, often associated with Chinese identity and heritage.

Strokes6Radical十Frequency#3908DifficultyMedium
Cultural note

华 is a key character in terms like '华人' (huárén), referring to Chinese people worldwide, reflecting the global Chinese diaspora and cultural identity. It is also found in the name for Mount Hua (华山), a famous and culturally significant mountain in China.

Memory tip

Imagine a beautiful flower (华) blooming under the sun, representing the splendor of China. The left part of the character suggests a majestic appearance, while the right side can be viewed as petals opening up, symbolizing growth and brilliance.

Meanings of 华

huā(hua1)
primary
1Mt Hua 華山
2flower
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 华 means.

About 华

华Simplified
華Traditional
6Strokes
十Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#3908Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3

Podcast: 华

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Podcast: 华

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AI study notes for 华

Quick Contrast

华 (huā) vs 花 (huā) — use 华 for cultural or national connotations, and 花 specifically for the physical flower.

Usage Notes

华 can sometimes be confused with 花 (huā), which exclusively means 'flower.' It is used in both formal and informal contexts but is often seen in literary or poetic expressions. Be careful with tone; mispronouncing it as huá (with a rising tone) can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 华 is not included in standard HSK levels, it connects with other characters that express beauty and cultural significance, like 美 (měi, beautiful). Focus on recognizing its usage in names and phrases related to Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 华 with 花 (huā) due to their similar pronunciations. For example, saying '我喜欢华' (wǒ xǐhuān huā) when you mean 'I like flowers' should be corrected to '我喜欢花' (wǒ xǐhuān huā).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 华

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Etymology of 华

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

Simplified form of 華. 化 is used here to represent the sound. The bottom component is a remnant from the traditional character 華.

Memory hint

ten

Semantic (meaning)十
+
Phonetic (sound)化
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

华 = 十 + 化. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 华

IDS Structure⿱化十
华Full character
=
化hua1
top
十shi2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 华?

How to say surname Hua in Chinese

“surname Hua” in Chinese is华huá

The character 华 (huā) primarily means 'flower' but also has connotations of magnificence and splendor. It is used in various contexts, including as an abbreviation for China and as a surname. The character conveys beauty and cultural significance, often associated with Chinese identity and heritage.

When to use 华

华 can sometimes be confused with 花 (huā), which exclusively means 'flower.' It is used in both formal and informal contexts but is often seen in literary or poetic expressions. Be careful with tone; mispronouncing it as huá (with a rising tone) can change the meaning entirely.

华 or something close to it

华 (huā) vs 花 (huā) — use 华 for cultural or national connotations, and 花 specifically for the physical flower.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 华 with 花 (huā) due to their similar pronunciations. For example, saying '我喜欢华' (wǒ xǐhuān huā) when you mean 'I like flowers' should be corrected to '我喜欢花' (wǒ xǐhuān huā).

Write 华

华

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

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Grammar patterns of 华

华 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.

最初是什么让你来到____盛顿的?

What brought you to Washington in the first place?

Common confusions with 华

华vs花
huā

Similar pronunciation but different meanings and usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Which one

Which one means “surname Hua”?

or

Example sentences for 华 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
最初是什么让你来到华盛顿的?

zuìchū shì shénme ràng nǐ láidào huā chéng dùn de?

What brought you to Washington in the first place?
2
斯特兰德街是伦敦最繁华、最富足的街道之一。

Sī tè lán dé jiē shì lún dūn zuì fánhuá、 zuì fùzú de jiēdào zhīyī。

The Strand is one of London's busiest and most affluent streets.
3
音乐节一直是新秀展示才华的宝贵机会。

yīnyuè jié yìzhí shì xīn xiù zhǎnshì cáihuá de bǎoguì jīhuì。

The festival remains a valuable showcase for new talent.
4
从这座房子可以俯瞰到特拉华湾壮丽的景致。

cóng zhè zuò fángzi kěyǐ fǔ kàn dào tè lā huā wān zhuànglì de jǐng zhì。

The house commanded some splendid views of Delaware Bay.
5
《华尔街日报》的一篇社论概述了很多保守派人士的观点。

《 huā ěr jiē rìbào》 de yī piān shèlùn gài shù le hěn duō bǎoshǒu pài rénshì de guāndiǎn。

A Wall Street Journal editorial encapsulated the views of many conservatives.
6
他最近对华盛顿的访问几乎是一场惨败。

tā zuìjìn duì huā chéng dùn de fǎngwèn jīhū shì yī chǎng cǎn bài。

His last visit to Washington was little short of a fiasco.
7
他乘坐总统的豪华列车经过自己所在的州。

tā chéngzuò zǒngtǒng de háohuá lièchē jīngguò zìjǐ suǒzài de zhōu。

He rode on the president's luxury train through his own state.
8
曼德拉先生在华盛顿受到热情的款待。

màn dé lā xiānsheng zài huā chéng dùn shòudào rèqíng de kuǎndài。

Mr Mandela was given a tumultuous reception in Washington.
9
华人服务生们站在一起,讲着只有他们自己才懂的笑话。

huárén fúwù shēng men zhàn zài yìqǐ, jiǎng zhe zhǐyǒu tāmen zìjǐ cái dǒng de xiàohua。

Chinese waiters stood in a cluster, sharing a private joke.
10
昨天在华盛顿举行的中东和谈有了取得进展的迹象。

zuótiān zài huā chéng dùn jǔxíng de zhōng dōng hé tán yǒu le qǔdé jìnzhǎn de jìxiàng。

Middle East peace talks in Washington showed signs of progress yesterday.

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Word Family of 华

Compounds6
哗huācrashing sound
桦huàa type of birch tree
晔yèbright, radiant; thriving
烨yèglorious, splendid; a blaze of fire
铧huáspade, shovel, plowshare
骅huáan excellent horse
Words containing this character20
新华社xīnhuáshèXinhua News Agency新華社
华huāsplendid華
华盛顿huáshèngdùnWashington (name)華盛頓
豪华háohuáluxurious豪華
才华cáihuátalent才華
霍华德huòhuádéHoward (name)霍華德
中华zhōnghuáChina (alternate formal name)中華
华丽huálìgorgeous華麗
新华网xīnhuáwǎngXinhua News Network新華網
爱德华àidéhuáEdward愛德華
中华人民共和国zhōnghuárénmíngònghéguóPeople's Republic of China中華人民共和國
华人huárénethnic Chinese person or people華人
华尔兹huá’ěrzīwaltz (dance) (loanword)華爾茲
精华jīnghuábest feature精華
奢华shēhuáluxurious奢華
华尔街huá’ěrjiēWall Street, New York華爾街
中华民族zhōnghuámínzúthe Chinese people中華民族
嘉年华jiāniánhuácarnival (loanword)嘉年華
繁华fánhuáflourishing繁華
华氏huáshìFahrenheit華氏
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 华

What does 哗 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 华

Yes, 华 (Huá) is also a common Chinese surname. It is not as prevalent as some other surnames, but it has historical significance and can be found in various regions across China.

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