HSK 5, ns, 12 strokes, radical 氵, rank #2794, Hard
湖
hú
lake; Hubei, Hunan; bluish-green
HSK 5, ns, 12 strokes, radical 氵, rank #2794, Hard
hú(hu2)hu T2
1lake
2lake; Hubei, Hunan; bluish-green
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March 24, 2026
湖hú(hu2)
The character '湖' (hú) means 'lake' in Mandarin. It commonly refers to larger bodies of freshwater found in nature and is often used in geographical names, such as provinces or cities in China like Hubei and Hunan. In addition to its literal meaning, '湖' can also connote tranquility and natural beauty.
Strokes12Radical氵Frequency#2794DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
Lakes hold significant cultural importance in Chinese poetry and art, often symbolizing peace and reflection. Famous lakes like West Lake (西湖) in Hangzhou are often celebrated in Chinese literature and tourism.
Memory Tip
Imagine a serene blue-green lake ('湖') reflecting a clear sky. The character resembles a flowing body of water with its curves, and the '氵' radical on the left suggests water, making it easier to remember that this character relates to lakes.
Meanings of 湖
hú(hu2)
1lake
2lake; Hubei, Hunan; bluish-green
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 湖 means.
About 湖
湖Simplified
12Strokes
氵Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#2794Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL2YCTL3HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 湖
Podcast: 湖
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AI Study Notes for 湖
Quick Contrast
海 (hǎi, sea) — use '湖' for freshwater bodies, while '海' refers specifically to saltwater bodies.
Usage Notes
When using '湖', be mindful of its measure words; '个' (gè) and '片' (piàn) are common. Avoid confusing '湖' with '河' (hé), which means 'river.' In informal contexts, people might say '湖泊' (húpō) to refer to lakes in general.
HSK Study Tips
Although '湖' is not in the official HSK list, it connects with other nature-related vocabulary at similar levels. Students should focus on pronunciation and the context in which '湖' can appear, such as in names of lakes or provinces.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '湖' with '海' (hǎi), which means 'sea.' For example, saying '我去海' (wǒ qù hǎi) when intending to say 'I go to the lake' is incorrect; it should be '我去湖' (wǒ qù hú).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 湖
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How Well Do You Know 湖?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 湖 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.
湖 = 氵 + 胡. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 湖
IDS Structure⿰氵胡
湖Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
胡Hu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 湖?
How to say lake in Chinese
“lake” in Chinese is湖hú
The character '湖' (hú) means 'lake' in Mandarin. It commonly refers to larger bodies of freshwater found in nature and is often used in geographical names, such as provinces or cities in China like Hubei and Hunan. In addition to its literal meaning, '湖' can also connote tranquility and natural beauty.
When to use 湖
When using '湖', be mindful of its measure words; '个' (gè) and '片' (piàn) are common. Avoid confusing '湖' with '河' (hé), which means 'river.' In informal contexts, people might say '湖泊' (húpō) to refer to lakes in general.
湖 or something close to it
海 (hǎi, sea) — use '湖' for freshwater bodies, while '海' refers specifically to saltwater bodies.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '湖' with '海' (hǎi), which means 'sea.' For example, saying '我去海' (wǒ qù hǎi) when intending to say 'I go to the lake' is incorrect; it should be '我去湖' (wǒ qù hú).
Write 湖
湖
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Grammar Patterns of 湖
湖 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 2 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.
