Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
濠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
濠háoditch, trench, moatg, 17 strokes, radical 氵
háo(hao2)hao T2
  1. 1ditch, trench, moat
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

濠háo(hao2)

The character 濠 (háo) refers to a type of ditch or trench, often used in the context of moats that surround castles or fortifications. It conveys the idea of a deep, water-filled excavation designed for protection or drainage. This term is typically used in historical or architectural discussions.

Strokes17Radical氵
Cultural note

In ancient China, moats (濠) were crucial for defense against invaders, especially during the feudal period. They symbolize the strategic military architecture of that era, reflecting the importance of fortifications in Chinese history.

Memory tip

Imagine a large, protective moat (濠) surrounding a castle, with the character resembling a fortress wall (亻) and a flowing river (氵) that fills the ditch. The 'h' sound in 'háo' can remind you of the 'ho' sound in 'moat', connecting both pronunciation and meaning.

Meanings of 濠

háo(hao2)
1ditch, trench, moat
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 濠 means.

About 濠

濠Simplified
17Strokes
氵Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 濠

JasonAmy

Podcast: 濠

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 濠

Usage Notes

Avoid confusing 濠 with similar characters like 河 (hé, river) or 沟 (gōu, ditch) which have different usages. This character is more formal and is rarely used in everyday conversation, often appearing in literary or historical contexts.

HSK Study Tips

Though not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding 濠 enriches your knowledge of architectural terms and historical contexts. Focus on recognizing its components and relating them to similar terms at various HSK levels to enhance your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 濠 with 河 (hé) when referring to water bodies. For example, saying '我想游泳在濠' ('I want to swim in the moat') is incorrect; instead, use 河 to indicate a river.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 濠

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 濠, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 濠 to you

Let me explain 濠 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 濠 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 濠?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 濠 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 濠

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

water

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

Origin

濠 = 氵 + 豪. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 濠

IDS Structure⿰氵豪
濠Full character
=
氵shui3
left
豪hao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 濠?

How to say ditch, trench, moat in Chinese

“ditch, trench, moat” in Chinese is濠háo

The character 濠 (háo) refers to a type of ditch or trench, often used in the context of moats that surround castles or fortifications. It conveys the idea of a deep, water-filled excavation designed for protection or drainage. This term is typically used in historical or architectural discussions.

When to use 濠

Avoid confusing 濠 with similar characters like 河 (hé, river) or 沟 (gōu, ditch) which have different usages. This character is more formal and is rarely used in everyday conversation, often appearing in literary or historical contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 濠 with 河 (hé) when referring to water bodies. For example, saying '我想游泳在濠' ('I want to swim in the moat') is incorrect; instead, use 河 to indicate a river.

Write 濠

濠

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 濠?

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.

Word Family of 濠

Words containing this character1
濠háotrench

Frequently asked questions about 濠

It is pronounced as háo, with a rising tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 濠?

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.

See the Learning Lab