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March 24, 2026
霍huò(Huo4)
霍 (huò) primarily serves as a surname in Chinese, but it can also mean 'suddenly' or 'quickly.' It is commonly used in expressions that convey a sense of abruptness or immediacy. In conversational contexts, it often appears in phrases indicating a rapid change or movement.
Strokes16Radical雨Frequency#6040DifficultyHard
Cultural note
The surname 霍 (Huo) is historically significant in Chinese culture and can be linked to notable figures, such as the famous military general Huo Qubing from the Han dynasty. This adds a layer of cultural richness to the character beyond its everyday use.
Memory tip
Imagine a scene where someone named Huo is sprinting suddenly across a field. The character 霍 has a 'fire' radical (火) on the bottom, suggesting a quick, fiery action. Picture Huo startling everyone with his sudden speed, which helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 霍
huò(Huo4)
1suddenly
2quickly, suddenly; surname
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 霍 means.
About 霍
霍Simplified
16Strokes
雨Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#6040Frequency Rank
Podcast: 霍
Podcast: 霍
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AI study notes for 霍
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 霍 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings, such as 'huò' meaning 'to obtain.' It is generally used in informal contexts. Common collocations include phrases that describe sudden events or changes, such as '霍然' (huò rán) meaning 'suddenly'.
HSK Study Tips
Although 霍 is not part of the standard HSK curriculum, it serves as a good example of characters that can function as both surnames and adverbs. Students at this level should focus on recognizing the character in conversational and written contexts, especially when discussing actions that occur suddenly.
Common Mistakes
Learners often incorrectly pronounce 霍 as 'huō' with a high tone instead of the correct falling tone 'huò.' Also, some may confuse it with other characters that sound similar but have different meanings, such as '获' (huò), which means 'to obtain.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 霍
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Learning Lab
Knowing 霍 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
霍 (huò) primarily serves as a surname in Chinese, but it can also mean 'suddenly' or 'quickly.' It is commonly used in expressions that convey a sense of abruptness or immediacy. In conversational contexts, it often appears in phrases indicating a rapid change or movement.
When to use 霍
Be careful not to confuse 霍 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings, such as 'huò' meaning 'to obtain.' It is generally used in informal contexts. Common collocations include phrases that describe sudden events or changes, such as '霍然' (huò rán) meaning 'suddenly'.
What learners get wrong
Learners often incorrectly pronounce 霍 as 'huō' with a high tone instead of the correct falling tone 'huò.' Also, some may confuse it with other characters that sound similar but have different meanings, such as '获' (huò), which means 'to obtain.'
Write 霍
霍
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Grammar patterns of 霍
霍 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
这名重量级拳击冠军将尝试挑战____利菲尔德的世界冠军头衔。
The heavyweight champion will be given a shot at Holyfield's world title.
Example sentences for 霍 (10)
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1
这名重量级拳击冠军将尝试挑战霍利菲尔德的世界冠军头衔。
zhè míng zhòngliàngjí quánjī guànjūn jiāng chángshì tiǎozhàn huò lì fēi ěr dé de shìjiè guànjūn tóuxián。
The heavyweight champion will be given a shot at Holyfield's world title.
