HSK 3, ns, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #2186, Medium
河
hé
>条[tiáo],道[dào]
HSK 3, ns, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #2186, Medium
河
hé
river, stream; the Yellow river
HSK 3, ns, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #2186, Medium
hé(he2) T2
1river
2>条[tiáo],道[dào]
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March 24, 2026
河hé(he2)
The character 河 (hé) means 'river' and is commonly used to refer to flowing water bodies, particularly larger ones like the Yellow River. In conversation, it can express both geographical features and metaphorical uses related to pathways or currents of life.
Strokes8Radical氵Frequency#2186DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
The Yellow River, known as 河流 (héliú) in Chinese, is considered the cradle of Chinese civilization, highlighting the importance of rivers in agriculture and culture throughout Chinese history.
Memory Tip
Imagine a flowing river that curves gently, resembling the character 河 itself. The left side '氵' (water radical) indicates it's related to water, while the right side '可' suggests something that can flow, helping you remember that 河 is all about the movement of water.
Meanings of 河
hé(he2)
1river
2river, stream; the Yellow river
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 河
河Simplified
8Strokes
氵Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#2186Frequency Rank
条Measure Word
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2YCTL3HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 河
Podcast: 河
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AI Study Notes for 河
Quick Contrast
河 (hé) vs 水 (shuǐ) — choose 河 when referring specifically to a river, while 水 refers to water in general.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a flowing river that curves gently, resembling the character 河 itself. The left side '氵' (water radical) indicates it's related to water, while the right side '可' suggests something that can flow, helping you remember that 河 is all about the movement of water.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 河 with similar words like 湖 (hú, lake) and 溪 (xī, stream). It's important to use 河 for larger water bodies and to pair it correctly with measure words like 条 (tiáo) for rivers. The tone must also be accurate; mispronouncing it as 'hǎ' can change its meaning.
HSK Study Tips
河 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but it connects to themes of nature and geography common in HSK Level 2. Focus on recognizing it in reading passages related to landscapes and practicing its tone and measure word usage.
Cultural Note
The Yellow River, known as 河流 (héliú) in Chinese, is considered the cradle of Chinese civilization, highlighting the importance of rivers in agriculture and culture throughout Chinese history.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 河 to describe lakes, saying '我去河' (Wǒ qù hé) instead of '我去湖' (Wǒ qù hú). Remember to reserve 河 for rivers only.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 河
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Grammar Patterns of 河
河 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.
The hills rise green and sheer above the broad river.
8
摩泽尔河在宁静的乡间蜿蜒穿行约160英里。
mó zé ěr hé zài níng jìng de xiāng jiān wān yán chuān háng yuē160 160 yīng。
The Moselle winds through some 160 miles of tranquil countryside.
9
尼罗河在此处变宽，从两块花岗岩巨石间穿过。
ní luó hé zài cǐ chǔ biàn kuān， ， cóng liǎng kuài huā gǎng yán jù shí jiān chuān。
Here the Nile broadens out between the huge granite boulders.
10
他在那里有一栋房子，但在河上游几英里处。
tā zài nà lǐ yǒu yī dòng fáng zǐ， ， dàn zài hé shàng yóu jī yīng lǐ。
He has a house down there but it's miles up river.
Cultural Notes for 河
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, rivers are often seen as symbols of life and prosperity. The Yellow River, known as '黄河' (Huáng Hé), is especially significant as it is considered the cradle of Chinese civilization.
🏮Cultural insight
The Yellow River, known as 河流 (héliú) in Chinese, is considered the cradle of Chinese civilization, highlighting the importance of rivers in agriculture and culture throughout Chinese history.
Word Family of 河
Compounds1
菏He2a river in Shandong province
Words Containing This Character20
河hériver
河南Henan province (Honan) in central China, abbr. 豫, capital Zhengzhou 鄭州|郑州[Zhèngzhōu]
爱河the river of love愛河
河流héliúriver
河边river bank河邊
河北Hebei province (Hopeh) in north China surrounding Beijing, short name 冀, capital Shijiazhuang 石家莊|石家庄[Shíjiāzhuāng]
银河Milky Way銀河
黄河huánghéYellow River or Huang He黃河
运河yùnhécanal運河
河水river water
河南省Henan province (Honan) in central China, abbr. 豫[Yù], capital Zhengzhou 鄭州|郑州[Zhèngzhōu]
河北省Hebei Province (Hopeh) in north China surrounding Beijing, short name 冀[Jì], capital Shijiazhuang 石家莊|石家庄[Shíjiāzhuāng]
银河系Milky Way Galaxy銀河系
河豚puffer
河道river course
河马hippopotamus河馬
小河brook
天河Milky Way
河谷river valley
河畔hépànriverside
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 菏 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 河
Some common phrases with 河 include '黄河' (Huáng Hé), which means 'Yellow River,' and '河流' (héliú), meaning 'river flow' or 'watercourse.' These phrases are useful for discussing geography or nature in Chinese.
In Chinese, 河 (hé) refers specifically to a larger river, whereas smaller bodies of flowing water are often referred to as 小溪 (xiǎoxī), meaning 'stream.' Understanding this difference can help in accurately describing water bodies in conversation.
河 (hé) means 'river' in Chinese. It refers to a large natural stream of water that flows in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another river. The character is commonly used in geographical contexts, such as naming rivers like the Yellow River.
You can use 河 (hé) in a sentence to describe a river, such as '这条河很美' (Zhè tiáo hé hěn měi), which means 'This river is beautiful.' It's often used with the measure word 条 (tiáo) when referring to rivers.
Make sure to use the second tone, which is rising, as in 'hé'.
No, 河 specifically refers to rivers; for lakes or smaller streams, use 湖 (hú) or 溪 (xī) respectively.
