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斛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
斛húancient measuring vessel; unit of volume, about 50 litersq, 11 strokes, radical 斗
斛húfifty litersunknown, 11 strokes, radical 斗
斛húdry measure for grain equal to five dou 五斗 (before Tang, ten pecks)unknown, 11 strokes, radical 斗
hú(hu2) T2
  1. 1ancient measuring vessel; unit of volume, about 50 liters
  2. 2fifty liters
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

斛hú(hu2)

The character 斛 (hú) refers to an ancient Chinese unit of measurement primarily used for volume, equivalent to about 50 liters. It is historically associated with measuring grains and liquids, often used in trade and agricultural contexts. The term also evokes a sense of historical measurement practices in ancient China.

Strokes11Radical斗
Cultural Note

In ancient China, measurements like 斛 played a crucial role in agriculture, commerce, and taxation, reflecting the importance of grain storage and trade in society. Understanding these units helps learners grasp the historical context of Chinese economic practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large, ancient wooden vessel (the shape of 斛) filled with grains, representing the volume of 50 liters. The left side of the character looks like a large container, while the right side suggests abundance, helping you remember that 斛 is used to measure significant quantities.

Meanings of 斛

hú(hu2)
1ancient measuring vessel; unit of volume, about 50 liters
2fifty liters
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 斛

斛Simplified
11Strokes
斗Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 斛

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Podcast: 斛

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AI Study Notes for 斛

Usage Notes

While 斛 is not commonly used in everyday conversation today, it is encountered in historical texts and discussions about traditional measurements. Be cautious of using it in modern contexts, as it may sound overly formal or archaic. Common collocations include 斛米 (hú mǐ), meaning a measurement of rice.

HSK Study Tips

Although 斛 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to other measurement terms like 升 (shēng, liter) and 斗 (dǒu, another unit of measure). Students should focus on understanding its historical context to appreciate its place in Chinese measurements.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 斛 with similar characters like 斗 (dǒu) or 升 (shēng), leading to misuse in context. For example, saying '我买了三斗酒' (wǒ mǎile sān dǒu jiǔ) instead of '我买了三斛酒' (wǒ mǎile sān hú jiǔ) when referring to an ancient measurement would be incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 斛

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Etymology of 斛

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

measuring cup

Semantic (meaning)斗
+
Phonetic (sound)角
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 斛

  1. 1The meaning half斗 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half角 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymeasuring cup
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 斛? 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 斛?

Decomposition of 斛

IDS Structure⿰角斗
斛Full Character
=
角jiao3
left
斗Dou3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 斛?

How to say ancient measuring vessel; unit of volume, about 50 liters in Chinese

“ancient measuring vessel; unit of volume, about 50 liters” in Chinese is斛hú

The character 斛 (hú) refers to an ancient Chinese unit of measurement primarily used for volume, equivalent to about 50 liters. It is historically associated with measuring grains and liquids, often used in trade and agricultural contexts. The term also evokes a sense of historical measurement practices in ancient China.

When to use 斛

While 斛 is not commonly used in everyday conversation today, it is encountered in historical texts and discussions about traditional measurements. Be cautious of using it in modern contexts, as it may sound overly formal or archaic. Common collocations include 斛米 (hú mǐ), meaning a measurement of rice.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 斛 with similar characters like 斗 (dǒu) or 升 (shēng), leading to misuse in context. For example, saying '我买了三斗酒' (wǒ mǎile sān dǒu jiǔ) instead of '我买了三斛酒' (wǒ mǎile sān hú jiǔ) when referring to an ancient measurement would be incorrect.

Write 斛

斛

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 斛

Words Containing This Character1
斛húfifty liters
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 斛 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 斛

No, 斛 is considered an archaic measurement and is rarely used in contemporary contexts.

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