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郝 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
郝hǎosurname Haounknown, 9 strokes, radical 阝, rank #17582, Very Hard
郝hǎoa place in Shanxi province; surnamenr, 9 strokes, radical 阝, rank #17582, Very Hard
郝hǎoancient place nameunknown, 9 strokes, radical 阝, rank #17582, Very Hard
hǎo(Hao3) T3
  1. 1surname Hao
  2. 2a place in Shanxi province; surname
Also a Chinese surname, Hǎo — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

郝hǎo(Hao3)

The character 郝 (hǎo) primarily serves as a surname in China and refers to a location in Shanxi province. It can also denote an ancient place name, indicating historical significance in certain contexts. While not a commonly used word in daily conversation, it may appear in genealogical discussions or historical texts.

Strokes9Radical阝Frequency#17582DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The surname 郝 is relatively common in China and has historical roots, linking individuals to specific regional identities, especially in Shanxi province. Surnames, such as 郝, often carry stories of lineage and heritage in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine the character 郝 looking like a house (the radical 阝) with a roof (口) on top, representing a family name or a place where people gather. The pronunciation 'hǎo' sounds like 'how,' as in 'How do we get to the Hao family's house?' This mental image connects the character's form with its meaning.

Meanings of 郝

hǎo(Hao3)
1a place in Shanxi province; surname
2ancient place name
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 郝

郝Simplified
9Strokes
阝Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 郝

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Podcast: 郝

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AI Study Notes for 郝

Usage Notes

When using 郝 as a surname, ensure correct pronunciation with the third tone (hǎo). Common mistakes include mispronouncing it as 'hao' (second tone) or using it in contexts where other surnames are more appropriate. It is important to recognize that this character is primarily a proper noun.

HSK Study Tips

Although 郝 does not appear on standard HSK lists, it can be useful for learners aiming to understand surnames and place names in Chinese culture. Familiarizing oneself with common surnames at HSK level 1 or 2 can help students contextualize this character within their studies.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 郝 with similarly sounding surnames like 郭 (Guō) or 侯 (Hóu). For example, saying '我姓郭' instead of '我姓郝' can lead to confusion regarding one's identity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 郝

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Etymology of 郝

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

place

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 郝

  1. 1The meaning half阝 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half赤 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayplace
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 郝? 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 郝?

Decomposition of 郝

IDS Structure⿰赤阝
郝Full Character
=
赤chi4
left
阝yi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 郝?

How to say surname Hao in Chinese

“surname Hao” in Chinese is郝hǎo

The character 郝 (hǎo) primarily serves as a surname in China and refers to a location in Shanxi province. It can also denote an ancient place name, indicating historical significance in certain contexts. While not a commonly used word in daily conversation, it may appear in genealogical discussions or historical texts.

When to use 郝

When using 郝 as a surname, ensure correct pronunciation with the third tone (hǎo). Common mistakes include mispronouncing it as 'hao' (second tone) or using it in contexts where other surnames are more appropriate. It is important to recognize that this character is primarily a proper noun.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 郝 with similarly sounding surnames like 郭 (Guō) or 侯 (Hóu). For example, saying '我姓郭' instead of '我姓郝' can lead to confusion regarding one's identity.

Write 郝

郝

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 郝

郝 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 3 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

我姓____,从台北打来的.

This is Mr. Hao from Taipei.

Example Sentences for 郝 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我姓郝,从台北打来的.

wǒ xìng hǎo, , cóng tái běi dǎ lái.

This is Mr. Hao from Taipei.
2
郝薇香小姐依旧不动声色地望着我.

hǎo wēi xiāng xiǎo jiě yī jiù bù dòng shēng sè dì wàng zháo wǒ.

Miss Havisham continued to look steadily at me.
3
郝薇香小姐要我到她家去, 想要看看我是不是中她的意.

hǎo wēi xiāng xiǎo jiě yào wǒ dào tā jiā qù, , xiǎng yào kàn kàn wǒ shì bù shì zhōng tā de.

Miss Havisham had sent for me, to see if she took a fancy to me.

Word Family of 郝

Words Containing This Character2
郝hǎosurname Hao
郝海东Hao Haidong (1970-), former Chinese soccer player郝海東
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 郝 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 郝

Yes, 郝 is a recognized surname in China, though it is not among the most common ones.

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