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琥 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
琥hǔamber, tigers-eyezg, 12 strokes, radical 王, rank #39721, Very Hard
hǔ(hu3)hu T3
  1. 1amber, tigers-eye
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March 24, 2026

琥hǔ(hu3)

The character 琥 (hǔ) refers to amber, a fossilized tree resin valued for its beauty and use in jewelry. It can also denote tigers-eye, a semi-precious gemstone known for its chatoyancy. This character is often used in contexts related to precious stones, jewelry, and traditional Chinese medicine.

Strokes12Radical王Frequency#39721DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Amber has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for its supposed healing properties, and it is often associated with wealth and status in jewelry. The use of amber as a material for carvings or ornaments is a longstanding tradition in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Imagine a tiger (hǔ) sitting on a sparkling piece of amber. The character 琥 has a 'jade' radical (王), suggesting precious stones, while the 'hu' sound reminds you of the tiger's fierce beauty, linking the idea of rarity and value.

Meanings of 琥

hǔ(hu3)
1amber, tigers-eye
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 琥 means.

About 琥

琥Simplified
12Strokes
王Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 琥

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Podcast: 琥

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AI Study Notes for 琥

Usage Notes

Avoid confusing 琥 with similar-sounding characters. It is typically used in more formal contexts when discussing gemstones or materials. Pay attention to pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While 琥 is not an HSK level word, it connects to related vocabulary about gemstones and nature found in lower levels. Students should focus on recognizing characters with the jade radical and related terms in the context of jewelry and nature.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 琥 with the character 虎 (hǔ), which means tiger. A common mistake is to use '虎' when referring to amber, which is incorrect; the correct character is '琥'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 琥

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Etymology of 琥

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

A tiger's eye 虎 stone 王; 虎 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 琥?

Decomposition of 琥

IDS Structure⿰王虎
琥Full character
=
王Wang2
left
虎hu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 琥?

How to say amber, tigers-eye in Chinese

“amber, tigers-eye” in Chinese is琥hǔ

The character 琥 (hǔ) refers to amber, a fossilized tree resin valued for its beauty and use in jewelry. It can also denote tigers-eye, a semi-precious gemstone known for its chatoyancy. This character is often used in contexts related to precious stones, jewelry, and traditional Chinese medicine.

When to use 琥

Avoid confusing 琥 with similar-sounding characters. It is typically used in more formal contexts when discussing gemstones or materials. Pay attention to pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 琥 with the character 虎 (hǔ), which means tiger. A common mistake is to use '虎' when referring to amber, which is incorrect; the correct character is '琥'.

Write 琥

琥

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

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Grammar Patterns of 琥

琥 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 3

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

破云而出的阳光透过窗户送来一束____珀色的光线。

A burst of sunshine sent a beam of amber light through the window.

Example Sentences for 琥 (3)

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1
破云而出的阳光透过窗户送来一束琥珀色的光线。

pò yún ér chū de yáng guāng tòu guò chuāng hù sòng lái yī shù hǔ pò sè de guāng xiàn。

A burst of sunshine sent a beam of amber light through the window.
2
适用于本法的酸酐有苯二甲酸, 马来酸及琥珀酸的酸酐.

shì yòng yú běn fǎ de suān gān yǒu běn èr jiǎ suān, , mǎ lái suān jí hǔ pò suān de suān.

Suitable anhydrides for use in this process include phthalic , maleic, and succinic.
3
展出的有用玉石 、 琥珀和紫水晶做的耳环 、 项链和手镯.

zhǎn chū de yǒu yòng yù shí、 、 hǔ pò hé zǐ shuǐ jīng zuò de ěr、 huán 、 xiàng liàn hé.

On display are earrings, necklaces and bracelets made from jade, amber and amethyst.

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Word Family of 琥

Words containing this character2
琥珀amber
琥hǔamber
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 琥

What does 琥珀 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 琥

琥 specifically refers to amber and tigers-eye, while other characters may denote different types of gemstones or materials.

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