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篌 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
篌hóuancient Chinese harpx, 15 strokes, radical ⺮
篌hóu(mus. instr.)unknown, 15 strokes, radical ⺮
hóu(hou2) T2
  1. 1ancient Chinese harp
  2. 2(mus. instr.)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

篌hóu(hou2)

The character 篌 (hóu) refers to an ancient Chinese musical instrument, specifically a type of harp. It is often associated with traditional Chinese music and cultural practices, symbolizing elegance and refinement in musical expression.

Strokes15Radical⺮
Cultural Note

The 篌 is a significant instrument in traditional Chinese music, often played in royal courts and important ceremonies, reflecting its cultural importance in ancient society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a harp made of bamboo, with strings that resonate like the sounds of nature. The character 篌 has a bamboo radical (竹) on the left, hinting at its material, while the right side (口) can remind you of the mouth, suggesting the sound produced when played.

Meanings of 篌

hóu(hou2)
1ancient Chinese harp
2(mus. instr.)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 篌

篌Simplified
15Strokes
⺮Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 篌

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Podcast: 篌

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AI Study Notes for 篌

Usage Notes

While 篌 is primarily used in literary or musical contexts, it may not be familiar in everyday conversation. Be cautious with pronunciation, as misplacing tones can lead to confusion with other words. It often appears in discussions about traditional Chinese instruments and music.

HSK Study Tips

Although 篌 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK Level 5, where students learn about traditional culture and arts. Focus on recognizing its historical significance and how it fits into discussions about Chinese music.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 篌 with other similar sounding characters, like 侯 (hóu), which means 'marquis' or 'noble.' Remember that 篌 specifically refers to the musical instrument and has its own distinct context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 篌

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Etymology of 篌

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

bamboo

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 篌

  1. 1The meaning half⺮ carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half侯 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaybamboo
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 篌? 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 篌?

Decomposition of 篌

IDS Structure⿱⺮侯
篌Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
侯Hou2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 篌?

How to say ancient Chinese harp in Chinese

“ancient Chinese harp” in Chinese is篌hóu

The character 篌 (hóu) refers to an ancient Chinese musical instrument, specifically a type of harp. It is often associated with traditional Chinese music and cultural practices, symbolizing elegance and refinement in musical expression.

When to use 篌

While 篌 is primarily used in literary or musical contexts, it may not be familiar in everyday conversation. Be cautious with pronunciation, as misplacing tones can lead to confusion with other words. It often appears in discussions about traditional Chinese instruments and music.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 篌 with other similar sounding characters, like 侯 (hóu), which means 'marquis' or 'noble.' Remember that 篌 specifically refers to the musical instrument and has its own distinct context.

Write 篌

篌

Practice writing 篌 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 篌

Words Containing This Character2
箜篌konghou (Chinese harp)
篌hóu(mus. instr.)
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 箜篌 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 篌

The 篌 is typically used in traditional Chinese music, often accompanying poetry or storytelling.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 篌?

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.