Chinese Character: 吼
1. Character Basics
Radical: 口/kǒu (mouth) + 孔/kǒng (hole/opening)
Stroke Count: 7 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Hǒu (Third tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning: Roar; howl; shout loudly
Extended Meanings: Bellow; yell; make a loud noise
Additional Notes: Refers to producing a loud, deep sound, often associated with animals or people expressing strong emotions.
4. Common Words
- 吼叫 (hǒu jiào) - Roar; howl; shout loudly
Example: 狮子在森林里吼叫。(Shīzi zài sēnlín lǐ hǒu jiào.) - The lion roars in the forest. - 怒吼 (nù hǒu) - Roar with anger; yell in fury
Example: 他愤怒地怒吼起来。(Tā fènnù de nù hǒu qǐlái.) - He roared with anger. - 狂吼 (kuáng hǒu) - Howl wildly; roar frantically
Example: 大风狂吼着吹过街道。(Dà fēng kuáng hǒu zhe chuī guò jiēdào.) - The strong wind howled through the streets. - 吼叫声 (hǒu jiào shēng) - Roar; howl; shout
Example: 远处传来狮子的吼叫声。(Yuǎn chù chuán lái shīzi de hǒu jiào shēng.) - The roar of a lion came from a distance. - 吼骂 (hǒu mà) - Shout abuse; yell curses
Example: 他们互相吼骂。(Tāmen hùxiāng hǒu mà.) - They shouted abuse at each other.
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Mainly used as a verb, but can also be a noun.
Common Usage: Often used to describe loud, powerful sounds made by animals or people, especially when expressing strong emotions like anger, excitement, or fear.
Common Structures:
- [adverb] + 吼: 大声吼 (shout loudly), 愤怒地吼 (roar angrily)
- 吼 + [preposition]: 吼向 (roar at), 吼着说 (say in a roar)
- 吼 + [object]: 吼人 (shout at people), 吼话 (shout words)
Usage Notes: Usually has a strong or intense connotation, often implying anger or aggression. Can be used literally or figuratively.
6. Cultural Background
Literary Usage: In Chinese literature, "吼" is often used to describe the powerful sounds of animals like tigers and lions, or to emphasize a character's strong emotions.
Idiomatic Expressions: There are idioms involving "吼", such as "河东狮吼" (hé dōng shī hǒu), which refers to a wife's scolding or a woman's loud anger.
Mythology: In Chinese mythology, certain mythical creatures are described as having powerful roars that can shake mountains or intimidate enemies.
Martial Arts: In some Chinese martial arts traditions, shouting (吼) is used to focus energy, intimidate opponents, and enhance power in strikes.
Modern Culture: In contemporary Chinese, "吼" is also used in slang to mean expressing oneself loudly or passionately, such as in singing or cheering.
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
Chinese: 老虎在山上吼叫。
Pinyin: Lǎohǔ zài shān shàng hǒu jiào.
English: The tiger roars on the mountain.
Example 2:
Chinese: 他生气地吼道：“你在做什么？”
Pinyin: Tā shēngqì de hǒu dào: "Nǐ zài zuò shénme?"
English: He shouted angrily, "What are you doing?"
Example 3:
Chinese: 风吼得很厉害，窗户都在摇晃。
Pinyin: Fēng hǒu de hěn lìhai, chuānghù dōu zài yáohuàng.
English: The wind howled fiercely, and the windows were shaking.
8. Memory Tips
Structure Memory: The character 吼 consists of 口 (mouth) on the left and 孔 (hole/opening) on the right. Imagine a loud sound coming through an opening (mouth), which relates to roaring or shouting.
Sound Association: The pinyin "hǒu" sounds similar to the English word "howl" when spoken with a Chinese accent, which can help with memorization.
Vocabulary Grouping: Group words related to loud sounds: 吼叫 (roar), 怒吼 (roar with anger), 狂吼 (howl wildly), etc. This reinforces the character's meaning.
Stroke Order Practice: Focus on the stroke order, especially for the right part 孔. Regular practice will help memorize the character's structure.
Context Usage: Use the character in sentences describing animal sounds or people expressing strong emotions to reinforce its meaning and usage.