(classical final particle similar to 嗎|吗[ma5], 吧[ba5], 呢[ne5], expressing question, doubt or astonishment)
HSK 6, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 丿, rank #8727, Hard
乎
hū
in
HSK 6, zg, 5 strokes, radical 丿, rank #8727, Hard
hū(hu1) T1
1(classical particle similar to 於
2at
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
乎hū(hu1)
The character 乎 (hū) functions primarily as a classical particle used to indicate location, source, or comparison, similar to the modern preposition 于 (yú). Additionally, it can serve as an exclamatory or interrogative particle, expressing surprise or questioning, akin to 吗 (ma) or 吧 (ba). Its usage is more prevalent in classical Chinese texts than in contemporary speech.
Strokes5Radical丿Frequency#8727DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In classical Chinese literature, 乎 is often found in poetry and philosophical texts, reflecting the linguistic style of ancient scholars. Its use highlights the richness of classical Chinese and provides insights into historical thought processes.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person standing in a location, looking around in astonishment and saying, 'Where am I, here or there?' The shape of 乎 resembles a person (亻) questioning their surroundings, which ties into its meaning of indicating a place or expressing doubt.
Meanings of 乎
hū(hu1)
1(classical particle similar to 於
2at
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 乎
乎Simplified
5Strokes
丿Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#8727Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6
Podcast: 乎
Podcast: 乎
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AI Study Notes for 乎
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person standing in a location, looking around in astonishment and saying, 'Where am I, here or there?' The shape of 乎 resembles a person (亻) questioning their surroundings, which ties into its meaning of indicating a place or expressing doubt.
Usage Notes
Learners may mistakenly use 乎 in modern contexts where it's not appropriate, as it’s largely archaic. It's important to distinguish between classical and modern usage; in contemporary Chinese, other particles like 吗 or 在 are preferred for questions or locations. Be mindful of tone; 乎 is pronounced with a high flat tone (hū).
HSK Study Tips
Though 乎 is not part of the official HSK levels, understanding its usage can enhance comprehension of classical texts. Students should focus on recognizing its function as a particle in contrast to more commonly used modern terms, connecting it with the study of literary works.
Cultural Note
In classical Chinese literature, 乎 is often found in poetry and philosophical texts, reflecting the linguistic style of ancient scholars. Its use highlights the richness of classical Chinese and provides insights into historical thought processes.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 乎 with more common question particles like 吗 or 吧, using it incorrectly in casual conversation. For example, saying '你好吗?' (Nǐ hǎo ma?) is correct, while '你乎吗?' (Nǐ hū ma?) is not appropriate.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 乎
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Grammar Patterns of 乎
乎 carries 10 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
In classical Chinese literature, 乎 is often found in poetry and philosophical texts, reflecting the linguistic style of ancient scholars. Its use highlights the richness of classical Chinese and provides insights into historical thought processes.
Word Family of 乎
Compounds12
呼hu1to call
烀hu1to simmer, to cook over a slow fire
虖hu1to cry, to howl, to roar
乯
垀
宷
歑
泘
苸
軤
轷hu1surname
雽
Words Containing This Character20
几乎jīhūalmost幾乎
似乎sìhūapparently
不在乎bùzàihunot to care
在乎zàihuto care about
乎hūat
近乎close to
出乎due to
出乎意料beyond expectation (idiom); unexpected
关乎to relate to關乎
合乎héhūto accord with
傻乎乎feeble-minded
微乎其微a tiny bit
不亦乐乎búyìlèhūawfully不亦樂乎
于是乎therefore於是乎
不外乎nothing else but
热乎乎nice and warm熱乎乎
满不在乎reckless滿不在乎
热乎warm熱乎
黑乎乎black
异乎寻常unusual異乎尋常
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 呼 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 乎
Though 乎 (hū) is primarily a classical particle, it is rarely used in modern spoken Chinese. However, it may appear in literary works or historical texts, where understanding its usage can provide insight into classical Chinese grammar.
乎 (hū) and 吗 (ma) both serve as question particles, but 乎 is more formal and typically found in classical Chinese. 吗 is used in modern conversational Chinese to form yes-no questions, while 乎 may convey a sense of doubt or astonishment.
乎 (hū) is a classical Chinese particle that can mean 'in', 'at', 'from', or 'because'. It is also used as a final particle to express a question, doubt, or astonishment, similar to 吗 (ma) and 吧 (ba).
To use 乎 (hū) in a sentence, you can place it after a verb or noun to indicate location or comparison. For example, in classical texts, one might say '在山乎' (zài shān hū) meaning 'in the mountains'. Its use is more prevalent in classical literature than in modern spoken Chinese.
No, 乎 is primarily used in classical Chinese and is rarely found in everyday speech.
It may be introduced in advanced studies or classical literature courses, but it is not part of standard conversational training.
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