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瓠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
瓠hùbottle gourd, calabashg, 11 strokes, radical 瓜, rank #68057, Very Hard
瓠hùgourdunknown, 11 strokes, radical 瓜, rank #68057, Very Hard
hù(hu4)hu T4
  1. 1bottle gourd, calabash
  2. 2gourd
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March 24, 2026

瓠hù(hu4)

The character 瓠 (hù) refers to a type of gourd, specifically the bottle gourd or calabash. It is commonly used in Chinese cuisine and traditional medicine, symbolizing health and nourishment. This word is often encountered in the context of cooking or discussing traditional Chinese ingredients.

Strokes11Radical瓜Frequency#68057DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the bottle gourd has historical significance as it was often used in traditional art and medicine. It symbolizes prosperity and good fortune, frequently appearing in folk tales and festivals.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant bottle gourd that looks like a bottle, standing upright. The character 瓠 resembles a bottle shape with an opening at the top, reminding you of its meaning. Picture it in a garden, where it grows tall and proud, producing nourishment for everyone.

Meanings of 瓠

hù(hu4)
1bottle gourd, calabash
2gourd
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 瓠

瓠Simplified
11Strokes
瓜Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 瓠

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Podcast: 瓠

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AI study notes for 瓠

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 瓠 (hù) with similar-sounding characters like 乎 (hū), which has different meanings. This term is more commonly used in informal settings or when discussing food. Remember to use the correct tone to avoid misunderstandings, as the second tone changes the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 瓠 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to HSK vocabulary related to food and nature, such as 蔬菜 (shūcài, vegetable) and 水果 (shuǐguǒ, fruit). Students should focus on pronunciation and recognizing its usage in culinary contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 瓠 (hù) as hū, leading to confusion with unrelated meanings. Another mistake is using it in formal contexts where more general terms like 蔬菜 (shūcài) might be preferred.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 瓠

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Etymology of 瓠

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

gourd

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

Origin

瓠 = 瓜 + 夸. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 瓠

IDS Structure⿰夸瓜
瓠Full character
=
夸kua1
left
瓜gua1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 瓠?

How to say bottle gourd, calabash in Chinese

“bottle gourd, calabash” in Chinese is瓠hù

The character 瓠 (hù) refers to a type of gourd, specifically the bottle gourd or calabash. It is commonly used in Chinese cuisine and traditional medicine, symbolizing health and nourishment. This word is often encountered in the context of cooking or discussing traditional Chinese ingredients.

When to use 瓠

Be careful not to confuse 瓠 (hù) with similar-sounding characters like 乎 (hū), which has different meanings. This term is more commonly used in informal settings or when discussing food. Remember to use the correct tone to avoid misunderstandings, as the second tone changes the meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 瓠 (hù) as hū, leading to confusion with unrelated meanings. Another mistake is using it in formal contexts where more general terms like 蔬菜 (shūcài) might be preferred.

Write 瓠

瓠

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

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Word Family of 瓠

Words containing this character2
瓠hùgourd
瓠瓜bottle gourd
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 瓠

What does 瓠瓜 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 瓠

The bottle gourd has a mild, slightly sweet taste and is often used in soups and stir-fries.

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