lotus, water lily; burden, responsibility; Holland
ng, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #6879, Hard
荷
hé
to carry on one's shoulder or back
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #6879, Hard
荷
hé
the Netherlands
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #6879, Hard
荷
hé
abbr. for 荷蘭|荷兰[He2 lan2]
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #6879, Hard
荷
hè
lotus, water lily; burden, responsibility; Holland
ng, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #6879, Hard
荷
hè
to carry on one's shoulder or back
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #6879, Hard
荷
hè
the Netherlands
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #6879, Hard
荷
hè
abbr. for 荷蘭|荷兰[He2 lan2]
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #6879, Hard
hé(He2)
primary
T2
1lotus, water lily; burden, responsibility; Holland
2to carry on one's shoulder or back
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
荷hé(He2)
The character 荷 (hé) primarily refers to the lotus or water lily, which is a significant symbol in Chinese culture representing purity and beauty. It is also used to denote a burden or responsibility, often in the context of carrying something physically or metaphorically, such as duties or obligations.
Strokes10Radical艹Frequency#6879DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The lotus flower holds deep significance in Chinese culture, often associated with Buddhism and purity, making 荷 a culturally rich character. It is common to see it in art, poetry, and festivals, symbolizing the beauty that can arise from muddy waters.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person named He (hé) carrying a beautiful lotus flower on their back. The flower represents purity, while the act of carrying symbolizes the burden of responsibilities that come with beauty and grace.
Meanings of 荷
hé(He2)
primary
1lotus, water lily; burden, responsibility; Holland
2to carry on one's shoulder or back
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 荷
荷Simplified
10Strokes
艹Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 荷
Podcast: 荷
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AI Study Notes for 荷
Quick Contrast
荷 (hé) vs 担 (dān) — use 荷 when emphasizing the symbolic aspect of a burden, while 担 focuses more on the act of carrying.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person named He (hé) carrying a beautiful lotus flower on their back. The flower represents purity, while the act of carrying symbolizes the burden of responsibilities that come with beauty and grace.
Usage Notes
荷 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions around responsibilities and nature. A common mistake is to confuse its meaning with other characters for burden, such as 负 (fù), which has a more negative connotation. Remember to use 荷 when you want to emphasize the beauty or significance of the burden.
HSK Study Tips
Although 荷 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to HSK level 3 and 4 words related to nature and responsibilities, like 责任 (zérèn, responsibility). Students should focus on recognizing it in context, especially in literary or poetic expressions.
Cultural Note
The lotus flower holds deep significance in Chinese culture, often associated with Buddhism and purity, making 荷 a culturally rich character. It is common to see it in art, poetry, and festivals, symbolizing the beauty that can arise from muddy waters.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 荷 with other characters that describe burdens, such as 负 (fù). For example, saying '我负了许多责任' (wǒ fùle xǔduō zérèn) instead of '我承担了许多责任' (wǒ chéngdānle xǔduō zérèn) can lead to misunderstanding.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 荷
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Grammar Patterns of 荷
荷 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他对于法国、德国和____兰的文学了如指掌。
He was well acquainted with the literature of France, Germany and Holland.
Example Sentences for 荷 (10)
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1
他对于法国、德国和荷兰的文学了如指掌。
tā duì yú fǎ guó、 、 dé guó hé hé lán de wén xué le rú zhǐ。
He was well acquainted with the literature of France, Germany and Holland.
2
她是伦敦著名的“薄荷犀牛”夜总会的钢管舞舞者。
tā shì lún dūn zhù míng de“ “ báo hé xī” niú ” yè zǒng huì de gāng guǎn wǔ。
She is a pole dancer at London's famous Spearmint Rhino club.
Analysts fear the overstretched air traffic control system could reach breaking point.
9
他早餐就吃了点水煮荷包蛋，喝了点茶。
tā zǎo cān jiù chī le diǎn shuǐ zhǔ hé bāo dàn， ， hē le diǎn。
He had a light breakfast of poached eggs and tea.
10
荷兰烤箱能够做的食物之多会让你感到惊奇。
hé lán kǎo xiāng néng gòu zuò de shí wù zhī duō huì ràng nǐ gǎn dào jīng qí。
You'll be amazed at the culinary creations possible in a Dutch oven.
Cultural Notes for 荷
🏮Cultural insight
The lotus flower holds deep significance in Chinese culture, often associated with Buddhism and purity, making 荷 a culturally rich character. It is common to see it in art, poetry, and festivals, symbolizing the beauty that can arise from muddy waters.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, the lotus is also seen as a symbol of purity, but it may not have the same religious or cultural depth as in Chinese traditions.
Word Family of 荷
Words Containing This Character18
荷兰Holland荷蘭
荷hélotus
薄荷field mint
负荷load負荷
荷尔蒙hormone (loanword)荷爾蒙
荷马Homer荷馬
荷花héhuālotus
超负荷excess load超負荷
载荷load載荷
荷包purse
电荷electric charge電荷
荷兰语Dutch (language)荷蘭語
荷包蛋poached egg
荷枪实弹(idiom) armed荷槍實彈
爱达荷州Idaho, US state愛達荷州
爱荷华Iowa, US state (Tw)愛荷華
薄荷油peppermint oil
奥克拉荷马Oklahoma, US state (Tw)奧克拉荷馬
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 荷兰 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 荷
荷 can refer to the lotus flower, a symbol of beauty and purity, as well as to burdens or responsibilities in both physical and metaphorical senses.
荷 is often used when discussing responsibilities or obligations, such as in the phrase '承担责任' (ch担任责任, to shoulder responsibilities).
While 荷 itself isn't commonly in idioms, it can be part of phrases that describe carrying burdens, such as '荷担' (hé dān, to carry a load).
