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招呼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
招呼zhāohuto call out toHSK 4, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #2687, Medium
招呼zhāohuto greetHSK 4, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #2687, Medium
招呼zhāohuto say hello toHSK 4, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #2687, Medium
招呼zhāohuto informHSK 4, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #2687, Medium
招呼zhāohuto take care ofHSK 4, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #2687, Medium
招呼zhāohuto take care that one does notHSK 4, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #2687, Medium
zhāohu(zhao1hu5)zhao hu T1
  1. 1to call out to
  2. 2to greet
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March 24, 2026

招呼zhāohu(zhao1hu5)

招呼 (zhāo hū) means to call out to someone or to greet them, often in a friendly or informal manner. It can also imply taking care of someone, such as informing them about something or ensuring their well-being in a social context. This term is commonly used in everyday interactions, especially when meeting friends or acquaintances.

Strokes16Frequency#2687DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, greeting someone properly is a sign of respect and friendliness. 招呼 reflects the importance of social interactions and maintaining relationships, especially in communal settings like markets and festivals.

Memory Tip

Imagine you're at a bustling market and you see a friend across the way. You wave and shout '招呼!' as a way to greet them. The character 招 (zhāo) looks like a hand reaching out to call someone, while 呼 (hū) resembles sound waves flowing out, representing the act of calling out.

Meanings of 招呼

zhāohu(zhao1hu5)
1to call out to
2to greet
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About 招呼

招呼Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 招呼

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Podcast: 招呼

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AI Study Notes for 招呼

Quick Contrast

打招呼 (dǎ zhāohū) vs 招呼 (zhāohu) — use 打招呼 when emphasizing the action of greeting or initiating contact.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context in which you use 招呼; it's more informal and may not be suitable for formal settings. A common mistake is using 招呼 too formally, such as in business meetings, where a greeting like 你好 (nǐ hǎo) would be more appropriate. Additionally, ensure you use the correct tones, as mispronouncing them can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 招呼 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it connects with other greeting words in daily conversation. Focus on practicing its pronunciation and use it in situational dialogues to reinforce your understanding of greetings in Mandarin.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 招呼 with greetings like 你好 (nǐ hǎo) and use it inappropriately in formal situations. For instance, saying '招呼' in a business email is incorrect; a more suitable greeting would be '您好'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 招呼

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Component Characters

招zhāoto recruit
HSK 68 strokes扌
View full entry
呼hūto call
HSK 78 strokes口
View full entry

How to say to call out to in Chinese

“to call out to” in Chinese is招呼zhāohu

招呼 (zhāo hū) means to call out to someone or to greet them, often in a friendly or informal manner. It can also imply taking care of someone, such as informing them about something or ensuring their well-being in a social context. This term is commonly used in everyday interactions, especially when meeting friends or acquaintances.

When to use 招呼

Be mindful of the context in which you use 招呼; it's more informal and may not be suitable for formal settings. A common mistake is using 招呼 too formally, such as in business meetings, where a greeting like 你好 (nǐ hǎo) would be more appropriate. Additionally, ensure you use the correct tones, as mispronouncing them can change the meaning.

招呼 or something close to it

打招呼 (dǎ zhāohū) vs 招呼 (zhāohu) — use 打招呼 when emphasizing the action of greeting or initiating contact.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 招呼 with greetings like 你好 (nǐ hǎo) and use it inappropriately in formal situations. For instance, saying '招呼' in a business email is incorrect; a more suitable greeting would be '您好'.

Write 招呼

招
呼

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Frequently Asked Questions about 招呼

招呼 is generally considered informal, making it suitable for casual conversations among friends or acquaintances. In formal situations, other terms may be preferred for greeting.

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