Chinese Character: 候
1. Character Basics
Radical: 亻/rén (person) + 侯/hóu (marquis)
Stroke Count: 10 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Hòu (Fourth tone) or Hóu (Second tone, in some contexts)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning: Wait; await; expect; season; time; condition
Extended Meaning: Observe; monitor; climate; weather; situation
Additional Notes: As a measure word, it can mean "a period of time" or "a time" (as in 时候 - shí hou).
4. Common Words
- 时候 (shí hou): Time; moment
Example: 现在是什么时候？ (Xiàn zài shì shén me shí hou?) - What time is it now?
- 等候 (děng hòu): Wait; await
Example: 我在门口等候你。 (Wǒ zài mén kǒu děng hòu nǐ.) - I'll wait for you at the door.
- 气候 (qì hòu): Climate; weather
Example: 这里的气候很宜人。 (Zhè lǐ de qì hòu hěn yí rén.) - The climate here is very pleasant.
- 问候 (wèn hòu): Greet; send one's regards
Example: 请代我问候你的父母。 (Qǐng dài wǒ wèn hòu nǐ de fù mǔ.) - Please give my regards to your parents.
- 候选人 (hòu xuǎn rén): Candidate
Example: 他是总统候选人之一。 (Tā shì zǒng tǒng hòu xuǎn rén zhī yī.) - He is one of the presidential candidates.
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Mainly used as a verb or noun; can also be a suffix or part of compound words.
Common Usage:
- 表示等待: 等候 (děng hòu) - wait
- 表示时间: 时候 (shí hou) - time
- 表示气候: 气候 (qì hòu) - climate
Common Structures:
- 候+动词: Await + verb
Example: 候车 (hòu chē) - wait for a bus/train
- ...的时候 (...de shí hou): When...
Example: 我吃饭的时候喜欢听音乐。 (Wǒ chī fàn de shí hou xǐ huan tīng yīn yuè.) - I like to listen to music when I eat.
Usage Notes: When used as a suffix in 时候 (shí hou), the pronunciation is lighter and the character loses its independent meaning.
6. Cultural Background
Cultural Significance: In traditional Chinese culture, "候" is used in the 24 solar terms (二十四节气 - èr shí sì jié qì), where each term is divided into three "候" (候应 - hòu yìng), representing specific natural phenomena.
Historical Usage: In ancient times, "候" was used to describe officials who observed and reported on natural phenomena, climate changes, and astronomical events.
Idiomatic Expressions:
- 稍候片刻 (shāo hòu piàn kè): Please wait a moment
- 恭候大驾 (gōng hòu dà jià): Respectfully await your arrival
- 候鸟南飞 (hòu niǎo nán fēi): Migratory birds fly south
7. Example Sentence
Sentence 1: 请稍候，我马上来。
Pronunciation: Qǐng shāo hòu, wǒ mǎ shàng lái.
Translation: Please wait, I'll be right there.
Sentence 2: 春天是个美丽的季节。
Pronunciation: Chūn tiān shì gè měi lì de jì jié.
Translation: Spring is a beautiful season.
Sentence 3: 时候不早了，我们该走了。
Pronunciation: Shí hou bù zǎo le, wǒ men gāi zǒu le.
Translation: It's getting late, we should leave.
8. Memory Tips
1. Structure Memory: The character "候" consists of "亻" (person) and "侯" (marquis). Imagine a person waiting for a marquis, which helps remember the meaning "wait".
2. Sound Association: The pronunciation "hòu" sounds similar to the English word "who", but with a falling tone at the end.
3. Word Grouping: Group words by category: time-related (时候, 气候) and action-related (等候, 问候).
4. Stroke Order Practice: Practice writing the 10 strokes in order, paying attention to the correct structure of the right part "侯".
5. Visual Association: The character resembles a person standing and waiting, with the right part looking like a house or pavilion where one might wait.