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运河 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
运河yùnhécanalHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #11321, Very Hard
yùnhé(yun4he2)yun he T4
  1. 1canal
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March 24, 2026

运河(運河)yùnhé(yun4he2)

运河 (yùn hé) refers to a man-made waterway designed for navigation and transportation. Canals play a crucial role in connecting rivers and seas, facilitating trade and movement of goods, especially in regions with dense waterways like China.

Strokes15Frequency#11321DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The Grand Canal (大运河) is a significant historical and cultural symbol in China, showcasing the country's engineering prowess and its role in economic development over centuries. This canal system is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'yun' (cloud) floating above a 'he' (river), transporting goods like a canal does. The cloud represents the flow of trade and transport, while the river symbolizes water pathways, linking places together.

Meanings of 运河

yùnhé(yun4he2)
1canal
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About 运河

运河Simplified
運河Traditional
15Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI Study Notes for 运河

Quick Contrast

河 (hé) - use 运河 (canal) when referring specifically to man-made waterways, while 河 (river) refers to natural flowing bodies of water.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing '运河'; the first character (运) has a falling tone while the second (河) has a rising tone. It is often used in both formal contexts, such as discussions on infrastructure, and informal conversations about local waterways.

HSK Study Tips

Although '运河' is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, understanding this term can enhance vocabulary related to geography and transport, which are commonly encountered in HSK exams. Focus on the character components and their meanings to aid memorization.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '运河' with '河' (river), forgetting that '运河' specifically refers to a canal. For example, saying '我去河' (I'm going to the river) instead of '我去运河' (I'm going to the canal) can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 运河

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Component Characters

运yùnto move
HSK 57 strokes辶
View full entry
河hériver
HSK 38 strokes氵
View full entry

How to say canal in Chinese

“canal” in Chinese is运河yùnhé

运河 (yùn hé) refers to a man-made waterway designed for navigation and transportation. Canals play a crucial role in connecting rivers and seas, facilitating trade and movement of goods, especially in regions with dense waterways like China.

When to use 运河

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing '运河'; the first character (运) has a falling tone while the second (河) has a rising tone. It is often used in both formal contexts, such as discussions on infrastructure, and informal conversations about local waterways.

运河 or something close to it

河 (hé) - use 运河 (canal) when referring specifically to man-made waterways, while 河 (river) refers to natural flowing bodies of water.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse '运河' with '河' (river), forgetting that '运河' specifically refers to a canal. For example, saying '我去河' (I'm going to the river) instead of '我去运河' (I'm going to the canal) can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 运河

运
河

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Frequently Asked Questions about 运河

A river (河, hé) is a natural watercourse, while a canal (运河, yùn hé) is man-made for navigation and commerce.

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