Chinese Character: 哄
1. Character Basics
Radical: 口/kǒu (mouth) + 共/gòng (together)
Stroke Count: 9 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Hǒng (Third tone), Hōng (First tone), Hòng (Fourth tone) - Multiple pronunciations
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning (Hǒng): Coax; deceive; soothe; mollify
Basic Meaning (Hōng): Make a noise; roar; boom; cheer
Basic Meaning (Hòng): Stir up trouble; create a disturbance; make a scene
Extended Meanings: Flatter; cajole; hum; buzz; clamor
Additional Notes: "哄" is a polyphonic character with different meanings based on pronunciation, often related to verbal interactions or sounds.
4. Common Words
- 哄骗 (hǒng piàn) - Deceive; trick
Example: 不要哄骗小孩子。(Don't deceive children.) - 哄孩子 (hǒng hái zi) - Coax a child; soothe a child
Example: 妈妈在哄孩子睡觉。(Mom is coaxing the child to sleep.) - 哄堂大笑 (hōng táng dà xiào) - The whole room bursts into laughter
Example: 他的笑话让大家哄堂大笑。(His joke made everyone burst into laughter.) - 起哄 (qǐ hòng) - Create a disturbance; stir up trouble
Example: 不要在教室里起哄。(Don't create a disturbance in the classroom.) - 哄抢 (hōng qiǎng) - Rush to grab; scramble for
Example: 人们哄抢打折商品。(People scrambled for discounted goods.)
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Verb, noun
Usage:
- As Hǒng (Third tone): Transitive verb meaning to coax or deceive someone
- As Hōng (First tone): Intransitive verb describing collective noise or action
- As Hòng (Fourth tone): Verb meaning to stir up trouble or create a disturbance
Common Structures:
- 哄 + 宾语 (Hǒng): 哄孩子 (coax a child), 哄骗他人 (deceive others)
- 副词 + 哄 (Hōng): 哄堂大笑 (the whole room bursts into laughter)
- 动词 + 哄 (Hòng): 起哄 (create a disturbance), 一哄而散 (scatter in confusion)
Notes: Pay attention to the different tones and meanings. "哄" is commonly used in daily conversations.
6. Cultural Background
The character "哄" has rich cultural connotations:
- Social Interaction: In Chinese culture, "哄" reflects the importance of interpersonal relationships, especially in how people comfort, persuade, or sometimes gently deceive others.
- Collective Behavior: When pronounced as "hōng", it often describes collective actions or reactions, reflecting the Chinese emphasis on group dynamics.
- Children and Parenting: "哄孩子" is an important concept in Chinese parenting, emphasizing the gentle approach to caring for children.
- Literary Usage: In literature, "哄" is often used to create vivid scenes of human interaction or noisy environments.
- Modern Context: Today, "哄" is still widely used in daily language, social media, and various forms of communication.
7. Example Sentence
Example 1 (Hǒng):
中文字：她用甜言蜜语哄我开心。
Pinyin：Tā yòng tián yán mì yǔ hǒng wǒ kāi xīn.
English：She used sweet words to make me happy.
Example 2 (Hōng):
中文字：观众们哄堂大笑，气氛非常热烈。
Pinyin：Guān zhòng men hōng táng dà xiào, qì fēn fēi cháng rè liè.
English：The audience burst into laughter, and the atmosphere was very lively.
Example 3 (Hòng):
中文字：不要起哄，保持安静。
Pinyin：Bù yào qǐ hòng, bǎo chí ān jìng.
English：Don't create a disturbance, keep quiet.
8. Memory Tips
Memory Techniques:
- Structure Memory: The character consists of 口 (kǒu, mouth) and 共 (gòng, together), suggesting people speaking together or to each other.
- Tone and Meaning Association: Remember the three different tones and their corresponding meanings:
- Hǒng (Third tone): Coax/deceive (imagine gently talking to someone)
- Hōng (First tone): Noise/cheer (imagine a crowd making noise)
- Hòng (Fourth tone): Disturbance (imagine a chaotic situation)
- Word Grouping: Group words by their pronunciation to help remember the different uses of "哄".
- Stroke Order Practice: Practice writing the character following the correct stroke order (9 strokes total). This will help with muscle memory.
- Contextual Use: Use the character in sentences with different tones to reinforce its various meanings and usages.