Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
呼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
呼
hū
to call
HSK 7, zg, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #2773, Very Hard
呼
hū
to cry
HSK 7, zg, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #2773, Very Hard
呼
hū
to shout
HSK 7, zg, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #2773, Very Hard
呼
hū
to breath out
HSK 7, zg, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #2773, Very Hard
呼
hū
to exhale
HSK 7, zg, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #2773, Very Hard
呼
hū
to call out
HSK 7, zg, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #2773, Very Hard
呼
hū
to breathe, to exhale, to sigh; to call, to shout
HSK 7, zg, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #2773, Very Hard
hū(hu1)hu T1
1to call
2to cry
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
呼hū(hu1)
The character 呼 (hū) primarily means 'to call' or 'to shout,' and it can also refer to the act of breathing out or exhaling. It is often used in contexts where someone is summoning another person or expressing a strong emotion through loud vocalization. The character's versatility allows it to be used in both literal and figurative senses.
Strokes8Radical口Frequency#2773DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, 呼 is not only about calling someone but also plays a role in traditional practices like 呼吸 (hūxī, to breathe), which is significant in both health and martial arts contexts, emphasizing the importance of breath control.
Memory tip
Imagine someone shouting 'Hoo!' to call their friend across a crowded street. The '呼' character looks like a mouth open wide, ready to shout, capturing the essence of calling out or exhaling sound.
Meanings of 呼
hū(hu1)
1to call
2to cry
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 呼 means.
About 呼
呼Simplified
8Strokes
口Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#2773Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 呼
Podcast: 呼
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 呼
Quick Contrast
呼 (hū, to call) vs 叫 (jiào, to shout) — use 呼 when emphasizing the act of calling or summoning someone, while 叫 is more about shouting or making a loud noise.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 呼 with similar-sounding characters or using it inappropriately in formal contexts where more refined terms are required. It often collocates with words like '喊' (hǎn, to shout) and '叫' (jiào, to call), so pay attention to the differences in usage.
HSK Study Tips
Although 呼 is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it is useful for learners at HSK Level 2-3 due to its practical applications in daily conversation. Students should focus on the pronunciation and contexts in which 呼 is used to call or shout.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 呼 with 号 (hào, to number or to signify) due to similar meanings related to calling. For example, saying '我呼这个号码' (Wǒ hū zhège hàomǎ) instead of '我叫这个号码' (Wǒ jiào zhège hàomǎ) is incorrect; '叫' is more appropriate for numbers.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 呼
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 呼, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 呼 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 呼?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 呼 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
呼 = 口 + 乎. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 呼
IDS Structure⿰口乎
呼Full character
=
口kou3
left
乎hu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 呼?
How to say to call in Chinese
“to call” in Chinese is呼hū
The character 呼 (hū) primarily means 'to call' or 'to shout,' and it can also refer to the act of breathing out or exhaling. It is often used in contexts where someone is summoning another person or expressing a strong emotion through loud vocalization. The character's versatility allows it to be used in both literal and figurative senses.
When to use 呼
Common mistakes include confusing 呼 with similar-sounding characters or using it inappropriately in formal contexts where more refined terms are required. It often collocates with words like '喊' (hǎn, to shout) and '叫' (jiào, to call), so pay attention to the differences in usage.
呼 or something close to it
呼 (hū, to call) vs 叫 (jiào, to shout) — use 呼 when emphasizing the act of calling or summoning someone, while 叫 is more about shouting or making a loud noise.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 呼 with 号 (hào, to number or to signify) due to similar meanings related to calling. For example, saying '我呼这个号码' (Wǒ hū zhège hàomǎ) instead of '我叫这个号码' (Wǒ jiào zhège hàomǎ) is incorrect; '叫' is more appropriate for numbers.
Write 呼
呼
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 呼 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 呼
呼 carries 7 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Marlette was already out of the door, flagging down a taxi.
7
他呼吁自己的同胞不要丧失信心。
tā hūyù zìjǐ de tóngbāo búyào sàngshī xìnxīn。
He appealed to his countrymen not to lose heart.
8
他呼吁企业不要过度提高价格。
tā hūyù qǐyè búyào guòdù tígāo jiàgé。
He appealed to firms not to increase their prices unduly.
9
他减税的承诺让亢奋的人群欢呼雀跃起来。
tā jiǎn shuì de chéngnuò ràng kàng fèn de rénqún huānhū qiāo yuè qǐlái。
His tax-cutting pledge brought a delirious crowd to their feet.
10
他谈话时，一架军用喷气式飞机在镇子上空呼啸而过。
tā tánhuà shí， yī jià jūn yòng pēn qì shì fēijī zài zhèn zi shàngkōng hūxiào ér guò。
As he talked, an airforce jet screamed over the town.
Exercise 1 of 1
Rebuild it
Rebuild it: “I held my breath and sank under the water.”
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Ask Jason
Have a question about 呼?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Cultural Notes for 呼
💡Did you know?
'呼' is often associated with expressions of emotion. In Chinese culture, calling someone's name loudly can signify urgency or affection, reflecting the importance of personal relationships.
Word Family of 呼
Words containing this character20
呼吸hūxīto breathe
呼hūto call
招呼zhāohuto greet
呼吁hūyùan appeal呼籲
呼叫hūjiàoto shout
称呼chēnghuto call稱呼
欢呼huānhūto cheer for歡呼
打招呼dǎzhāohuto give prior notice
呼唤hūhuànto shout呼喚
呼呼hūhū(onom.) sound of the wind or the breathing of sb who is sound asleep
呼声hūshēnga shout呼聲
呼吸道hūxīdàorespiratory tract
高呼gāohūto shout loudly
呼喊hūhǎnto shout (slogans etc)
惊呼jīnghūto cry out in alarm or surprise驚呼
呼啸hūxiàoto whistle呼嘯
呼应hūyìngto echo呼應
呼救hūjiùto call for help
呜呼wūhūalas嗚呼
呼和浩特hūhéhàotèHohhot prefecture-level city, capital of Inner Mongolia autonomous region 內蒙古自治區|内蒙古自治区[NèiměnggǔZìzhìqū]
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 呼
What does 呼吸 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 呼
呼 is pronounced as 'hū' with a high, level tone. Practicing the tone is essential, as it can change the meaning of words in Mandarin. Listening to native speakers can help you grasp the correct pronunciation.
Some synonyms for 呼 include 叫 (jiào), which means to shout or call out, and 喊 (hǎn), which also means to shout. These terms can be used interchangeably in many contexts, but it's important to understand their nuances in different situations.
呼 can be used in various contexts, such as '我呼叫你' (wǒ hūjiào nǐ), which means 'I call you.' You can also use it in phrases like '呼吸' (hūxī), meaning 'to breathe.' Understanding its usage in different situations can enhance your conversational skills.
呼 (hū) means to call, cry, shout, or exhale. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is making a loud noise to get attention or expressing strong emotions. Additionally, it can refer to the action of breathing out.
Common phrases include 呼喊 (hū hǎn, to shout) and 呼叫 (hū jiào, to call out).
呼 is generally informal; for formal situations, consider using 召唤 (zhàohuàn, to summon) instead.
呼 is pronounced as 'hū,' with a high tone. Practice saying it with emphasis to distinguish it from other similar sounds.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 呼?
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.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
