Learn a Chinese Character - 河 (Hé - River; stream; watercourse)

1. Character Basics

Radical: 氵/shuǐ (water) + 可/kě (can)

Stroke Count: 8 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Hé (Second tone)

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning: River; stream; watercourse

Extended Meaning: Any large flowing body of water; a major river system

Additional Notes: Often used to refer to major rivers in China, such as the Yellow River (黄河) and Yangtze River (长江)

4. Common Words

• 河流 (hé liú): River; stream

  这条河流很长。 (Zhè tiáo héliú hěn cháng.)

  This river is very long.

• 河水 (hé shuǐ): River water

  河水很清澈。 (Héshuǐ hěn qīngchè.)

  The river water is very clear.

• 河岸 (hé àn): River bank

  我们坐在河岸上。 (Wǒmen zuò zài hé'àn shàng.)

  We are sitting on the river bank.

• 黄河 (huáng hé): The Yellow River

  黄河是中国的第二长河。 (Huáng Hé shì Zhōngguó de dì'èr cháng hé.)

  The Yellow River is China's second longest river.

• 河流域 (hé liú yù): River basin

  长江流域人口密集。 (Cháng Jiāng liúyù rénkǒu mìjí.)

  The Yangtze River basin has a dense population.

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Noun

Usage: Primarily used as a noun to refer to rivers and watercourses.

Common Structures:

• 河 + [direction/location]: e.g., 河边 (hé biān - riverside), 河上 (hé shàng - on the river)
• [adjective] + 河: e.g., 大河 (dà hé - big river), 长河 (cháng hé - long river)
• 河 + [feature]: e.g., 河口 (hé kǒu - river mouth), 河床 (hé chuáng - river bed)

Example Sentences:

• 我们的城市靠近一条大河。 (Wǒmen de chéngshì kàojìn yī tiáo dàhé.) - Our city is near a big river.
• 这条河有多宽？ (Zhè tiáo hé yǒu duō kuān?) - How wide is this river?

Note: When combined with other characters, it forms compound words related to rivers and water features.

6. Cultural Background

Rivers have played a crucial role in Chinese civilization, serving as the cradle of Chinese culture, providing water for agriculture, transportation routes, and inspiration for art and philosophy.

Historical Significance: Major rivers like the Yellow River (黄河) and Yangtze River (长江) are often referred to as the "mother rivers" of China, as they nurtured the development of ancient Chinese civilizations.

Philosophical Symbolism: In Chinese philosophy, rivers are frequently used as metaphors for constant change and the flow of time. The famous Confucian saying "逝者如斯夫，不舍昼夜" (Shì zhě rú sī fū, bù shě zhòu yè) translates to "Time passes like this river, day and night without rest."

Cultural Impact: Many Chinese cities and towns developed along rivers, and rivers have shaped the country's geography, economy, and culture. Traditional Chinese painting and poetry often feature rivers as subjects, symbolizing life's journey and the harmony between humanity and nature.

Modern Importance: Today, rivers continue to be vital for China's agriculture, industry, and transportation, while also being important for ecological balance and tourism.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

1. Structure Memory: The character "河" consists of "氵" (water) on the left and "可" (can) on the right. Think of "water that can flow" as a river.

2. Association: Connect the character with famous Chinese rivers like the Yellow River (黄河) and Yangtze River (长江). Recall that rivers are essential for life and civilization.

3. Visual Imagery: Imagine a flowing river when you see the character. The left part "氵" resembles water flowing, and the right part "可" can be associated with the sound "kě" as in the English word "current" (flowing water).

4. Stroke Order: Practice writing the character following the correct stroke order: first the left part "氵" (3 strokes), then the right part "可" (5 strokes), totaling 8 strokes.

5. Common Combinations: Memorize common words containing "河" such as "河流" (river), "河水" (river water), and "河岸" (river bank) to reinforce your memory of the character and its usage.