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March 24, 2026
喝hē(he1)
The character '喝' (hē) primarily means 'to drink,' typically used in contexts involving beverages. Additionally, it can express surprise or excitement, similar to saying 'My goodness!' in English, often used to emphasize a reaction. The word may also imply shouting or calling out in certain contexts.
Strokes12Radical口Frequency#264DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, drinking tea or alcohol is often part of social gatherings and celebrations. The act of '喝' can symbolize hospitality and friendship, especially during toasts at banquets.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person at a party who is so excited about the drinks that they shout 'hē!' while raising a glass to drink. The character '喝' has a mouth radical (口) at the bottom, which symbolizes speaking or shouting, while the top part resembles a person’s arms raised in delight.
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AI Study Notes for 喝
Quick Contrast
喝 (hē) vs 吃 (chī) — use 喝 when referring specifically to drinking liquids, while 吃 is for eating solid food.
Usage Notes
'喝' is commonly used in both formal and informal settings, but learners should be careful not to overuse it in casual conversations where it might sound too emphatic. It often collocates with words like '水' (water) or '酒' (alcohol). Remember that the tone is crucial; mispronouncing it as 'hè' (fourth tone) can change its meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, '喝' connects to other basic verbs in Mandarin, such as '吃' (to eat) and '走' (to go). Students should focus on practicing its pronunciation and using it in simple sentences about daily activities involving drinking.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '喝' with '喝水' (hē shuǐ) thinking it only means 'to drink water.' However, '喝' can refer to any liquid. Another mistake is using the wrong tone; saying 'hè' instead of 'hē' can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 喝
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Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 曷 represents the sound.
1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
2The sound half曷 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymouth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 喝?
Decomposition of 喝
IDS Structure⿰口曷
喝Full Character
=
口kou3
left
曷he2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 喝?
How to say to drink in Chinese
“to drink” in Chinese is喝hē
The character '喝' (hē) primarily means 'to drink,' typically used in contexts involving beverages. Additionally, it can express surprise or excitement, similar to saying 'My goodness!' in English, often used to emphasize a reaction. The word may also imply shouting or calling out in certain contexts.
When to use 喝
'喝' is commonly used in both formal and informal settings, but learners should be careful not to overuse it in casual conversations where it might sound too emphatic. It often collocates with words like '水' (water) or '酒' (alcohol). Remember that the tone is crucial; mispronouncing it as 'hè' (fourth tone) can change its meaning entirely.
喝 or something close to it
喝 (hē) vs 吃 (chī) — use 喝 when referring specifically to drinking liquids, while 吃 is for eating solid food.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '喝' with '喝水' (hē shuǐ) thinking it only means 'to drink water.' However, '喝' can refer to any liquid. Another mistake is using the wrong tone; saying 'hè' instead of 'hē' can lead to misunderstandings.
Write 喝
喝
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Practice writing 喝 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 喝
喝 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. 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.
