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虍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
虍hūtigerx, 6 strokes, radical 虍
虍hūstripes of a tigerunknown, 6 strokes, radical 虍
虍hū"tiger" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 141)unknown, 6 strokes, radical 虍
hū(hu1)hu T1
  1. 1tiger
  2. 2stripes of a tiger
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March 24, 2026

虍hū(hu1)

The character 虍 (hū) represents the concept of a 'tiger' or the stripes of a tiger. It is commonly used as a radical in other characters related to tigers or feline traits, emphasizing strength and fierceness. In some contexts, it symbolizes power and bravery, particularly in traditional Chinese culture.

Strokes6Radical虍
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the tiger is one of the twelve zodiac animals and symbolizes strength, bravery, and protection. The presence of 虍 in characters often evokes these qualities, reflecting the tiger's significance in folklore and traditional beliefs.

Memory tip

Imagine a tiger with its bold stripes resembling the character 虍. The two horizontal strokes at the top can look like the tiger's fur, while the vertical stroke represents its powerful body. Picture a fierce tiger roaring, which starts with the sound 'hū'—this connects the character to its pronunciation.

Meanings of 虍

hū(hu1)
1tiger
2stripes of a tiger
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 虍

虍Simplified
6Strokes
虍Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 虍

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AI study notes for 虍

Usage Notes

The character 虍 is primarily used in written contexts and is not commonly used in everyday speech. Learners may mistakenly use it in place of the full word for tiger (老虎, lǎohǔ) in conversation. It is important to remember that 虍 is a radical and not a standalone word for 'tiger' in most contexts.

HSK Study Tips

While 虍 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful to recognize as a radical in words you may encounter at higher levels. Focusing on its use in compound characters can help deepen your understanding of related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 虍 with the complete word for tiger (老虎, lǎohǔ) and may attempt to use it in conversation incorrectly. Instead, remember that 虍 serves mainly as a radical in other characters.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 虍

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Etymology of 虍

Explanation

虍 is a component form of 虎.

Learn more about character formation (六书)

Decomposition of 虍

IDS Structure⿸?七
虍Full character
=
七qi1
enclosing
Exercise 1 of 1

Parts

Which of these is part of 虍?

How to say tiger in Chinese

“tiger” in Chinese is虍hū

The character 虍 (hū) represents the concept of a 'tiger' or the stripes of a tiger. It is commonly used as a radical in other characters related to tigers or feline traits, emphasizing strength and fierceness. In some contexts, it symbolizes power and bravery, particularly in traditional Chinese culture.

When to use 虍

The character 虍 is primarily used in written contexts and is not commonly used in everyday speech. Learners may mistakenly use it in place of the full word for tiger (老虎, lǎohǔ) in conversation. It is important to remember that 虍 is a radical and not a standalone word for 'tiger' in most contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 虍 with the complete word for tiger (老虎, lǎohǔ) and may attempt to use it in conversation incorrectly. Instead, remember that 虍 serves mainly as a radical in other characters.

Write 虍

虍

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

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Word Family of 虍

Words containing this character1
虍hūstripes of a tiger

Frequently asked questions about 虍

It means 'tiger' or refers to the stripes of a tiger and is used as a radical in many characters.

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