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March 24, 2026
喉hóu(hou2)
The character 喉 (hóu) refers to the throat or larynx, which is the part of the body involved in breathing, swallowing, and speaking. It is commonly used in medical or anatomical contexts, often to describe conditions related to the throat or to specify parts of speech production.
Strokes12Radical口Frequency#9277DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the throat is considered a vital pathway for Qi (energy) and is often referenced in discussions about voice and health, reflecting the importance of communication in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'hoe' (sounds like 'hóu') digging deep into your throat, clearing out anything that might block your voice! The character features '口' (kǒu), which means 'mouth,' emphasizing the connection between the mouth and throat.
Meanings of 喉
hóu(hou2)
1throat
2larynx
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 喉
喉Simplified
12Strokes
口Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9277Frequency Rank
Podcast: 喉
Podcast: 喉
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AI Study Notes for 喉
Quick Contrast
气管 (qìguǎn, trachea) vs 喉 (hóu) — use 喉 when specifically referring to the throat or larynx, while 气管 refers to the windpipe.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the pronunciation, as it can be easily confused with similar-sounding words. The word is generally used in neutral contexts, but when discussing health, it may take on a more formal tone. Common collocations include '喉咙' (hóulóng - throat) and '喉音' (hóuyīn - guttural sound).
HSK Study Tips
喉 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, but it connects to other body-related words. Students should focus on pronunciation and recognize its role in discussions about health or anatomy, complementing terms like '头' (tóu - head) and '口' (kǒu - mouth).
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 喉 with similar characters like 口 (kǒu), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我痛口' (wǒ tòng kǒu - I have a pain in my mouth) instead of '我痛喉' (wǒ tòng hóu - I have a pain in my throat) shows this error.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 喉
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Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 侯 represents the sound.
1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
2The sound half侯 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymouth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 喉? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 喉?
Decomposition of 喉
IDS Structure⿰口侯
喉Full Character
=
口kou3
left
侯Hou2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 喉?
How to say throat in Chinese
“throat” in Chinese is喉hóu
The character 喉 (hóu) refers to the throat or larynx, which is the part of the body involved in breathing, swallowing, and speaking. It is commonly used in medical or anatomical contexts, often to describe conditions related to the throat or to specify parts of speech production.
When to use 喉
Be careful with the pronunciation, as it can be easily confused with similar-sounding words. The word is generally used in neutral contexts, but when discussing health, it may take on a more formal tone. Common collocations include '喉咙' (hóulóng - throat) and '喉音' (hóuyīn - guttural sound).
喉 or something close to it
气管 (qìguǎn, trachea) vs 喉 (hóu) — use 喉 when specifically referring to the throat or larynx, while 气管 refers to the windpipe.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 喉 with similar characters like 口 (kǒu), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我痛口' (wǒ tòng kǒu - I have a pain in my mouth) instead of '我痛喉' (wǒ tòng hóu - I have a pain in my throat) shows this error.
Write 喉
喉
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Practice writing 喉 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 喉
喉 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
他____咙深处有一股金属味儿。
There was a metallic taste at the back of his throat.
Example Sentences for 喉 (10)
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1
他喉咙深处有一股金属味儿。
tā hóu lóng shēn chǔ yǒu yī gǔ jīn shǔ wèi ér。
There was a metallic taste at the back of his throat.
