Chinese Character: 呼
1. Character Basics
Radical: 口/kǒu (mouth) + 乎/hū (乎)
Stroke Count: 8 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Hū (First tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning: Breathe out; exhale; call; shout; cry
Extended Meaning: Summon; invoke; name; title
Additional Notes: Often used to describe the act of calling out or making a sound with the mouth.
4. Common Words
- 呼吸 (hū xī): Breathe
Example: 呼吸新鲜空气对健康很重要。 (Hū xī xīn xiān kōng qì duì jiàn kāng hěn zhòng yào.) - Breathing fresh air is important for health.
- 呼叫 (hū jiào): Call; shout
Example: 他大声呼叫救命。 (Tā dà shēng hū jiào jiù mìng.) - He shouted loudly for help.
- 呼吁 (hū yù): Appeal; call on
Example: 我们呼吁大家节约水资源。 (Wǒ men hū yù dà jiā jié yuē shuǐ zī yuán.) - We appeal to everyone to save water resources.
- 欢呼 (huān hū): Cheer; shout for joy
Example: 人们欢呼雀跃庆祝胜利。 (Rén men huān hū què yuè qìng zhù shèng lì.) - People cheered and jumped for joy to celebrate the victory.
- 称呼 (chēng hū): Address; call
Example: 我们应该如何称呼您？ (Wǒ men yīng gāi rú hé chēng hū nín?) - How should we address you?
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Mainly used as a verb
Common Usage:
- 表示呼吸: Express breathing
- 表示呼喊: Express shouting or calling
- 表示号召: Express appealing or calling on
Common Structures:
- 呼 + 名词: Call + noun
Example: 呼叫救护车。 (Hū jiào jiù hù chē.) - Call an ambulance.
- 呼...为...: Call...as...
Example: 人们呼他为英雄。 (Rén men hū tā wéi yīng xióng.) - People call him a hero.
Usage Notes: "呼" is often used in compound words or fixed expressions rather than alone.
6. Cultural Background
Cultural Significance: In traditional Chinese culture, "呼" is often used in poetic expressions to describe natural sounds, such as wind blowing (呼号 - hū háo) or animals calling.
Historical Usage: In ancient texts, "呼" was commonly used to describe the act of summoning, calling, or invoking spirits or deities.
Idiomatic Expressions:
- 呼风唤雨 (hū fēng huàn yǔ): Call wind and rain, meaning to have great power or influence
- 一呼百应 (yī hū bǎi yìng): One call brings a hundred responses, meaning to have wide support
- 呼之欲出 (hū zhī yù chū): Seem ready to come out, describing something vivid or lifelike
7. Example Sentence
Sentence 1: 他深深地吸了一口气，然后呼出。
Pronunciation: Tā shēn shēn de xī le yī kǒu qì, rán hòu hū chū.
Translation: He took a deep breath and then exhaled.
Sentence 2: 老师在教室里呼叫学生的名字。
Pronunciation: Lǎo shī zài jiào shì lǐ hū jiào xué shēng de míng zì.
Translation: The teacher is calling the students' names in the classroom.
Sentence 3: 我们呼吁大家保护环境。
Pronunciation: Wǒ men hū yù dà jiā bǎo hù huán jìng.
Translation: We call on everyone to protect the environment.
8. Memory Tips
1. Structure Memory: The character "呼" consists of "口" (mouth) and "乎". Imagine a person using their mouth to call out or breathe, which relates to its meaning.
2. Sound Association: The pronunciation "hū" sounds similar to the English word "hoo" and mimics the sound of exhaling or calling.
3. Word Grouping: Group words by function: breathing-related (呼吸), calling-related (呼叫, 呼吁), and addressing-related (称呼).
4. Stroke Order Practice: Practice writing the 8 strokes in order, paying attention to the correct placement of the "口" radical on the left.
5. Visual Association: The left part "口" clearly indicates it's related to the mouth, while the right part "乎" helps remember the sound and additional meaning.