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百货 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
百货bǎihuògeneral merchandiseHSK 6, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #14941, Hard
bǎihuò(bai3huo4) T3
  1. 1general merchandise
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March 24, 2026

百货(百貨)bǎihuò(bai3huo4)

百货 (bǎi huò) refers to general merchandise, usually found in department stores or large retail establishments. It encompasses a wide range of products including clothing, household items, and electronics, catering to various consumer needs in one location.

Strokes14Frequency#14941DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 百货 stores are social hubs, often serving as places for family outings or leisure activities, especially in urban areas. They reflect the modernization and consumer culture that has rapidly developed in China over recent decades.

Memory Tip

Think of 百 (bǎi) as the number 'hundred', representing a large variety, while 货 (huò) sounds like 'what', indicating all the things you can buy. Imagine a giant store filled with a hundred different types of goods, making it easy to remember the meaning!

Meanings of 百货

bǎihuò(bai3huo4)
1general merchandise
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About 百货

百货Simplified
百貨Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 百货

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Podcast: 百货

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AI Study Notes for 百货

Quick Contrast

杂货 (záhuò) refers to groceries or miscellaneous goods, while 百货 (bǎihuò) encompasses a broader range of general merchandise, including non-food items.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with pronunciation; the tones are essential, as incorrect tones may confuse meanings. '百货商店' (bǎi huò shāng diàn) is a common collocation meaning 'department store'. Use this term in informal and formal contexts alike.

HSK Study Tips

Though 百货 is not explicitly listed in the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other common shopping-related terms like 商店 (shāng diàn, store) and 购物 (gòu wù, shopping). Focus on context when learning this term to enhance your shopping vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 百货 with specialty stores, thinking it refers to one type of product. Remember, 百货 indicates a variety of items, not a single category. For example, saying '我去买百货的衣服' (I go to buy general merchandise clothes) is incorrect; it should be '我去百货商店买衣服'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 百货

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Component Characters

百bǎihundred
HSK 16 strokes白
View full entry
货huògoods
HSK 48 strokes贝
View full entry

How to say general merchandise in Chinese

“general merchandise” in Chinese is百货bǎihuò

百货 (bǎi huò) refers to general merchandise, usually found in department stores or large retail establishments. It encompasses a wide range of products including clothing, household items, and electronics, catering to various consumer needs in one location.

When to use 百货

Be cautious with pronunciation; the tones are essential, as incorrect tones may confuse meanings. '百货商店' (bǎi huò shāng diàn) is a common collocation meaning 'department store'. Use this term in informal and formal contexts alike.

百货 or something close to it

杂货 (záhuò) refers to groceries or miscellaneous goods, while 百货 (bǎihuò) encompasses a broader range of general merchandise, including non-food items.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 百货 with specialty stores, thinking it refers to one type of product. Remember, 百货 indicates a variety of items, not a single category. For example, saying '我去买百货的衣服' (I go to buy general merchandise clothes) is incorrect; it should be '我去百货商店买衣服'.

Write 百货

百
货

Practice writing 百货 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 百货

百货 translates to 'general merchandise' or 'department store'.

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