Chinese Character: 壶
1. Character Basics
Radical: 士/shì (scholar) + 冖/mì (cover) + 业/yè (profession) + 皿/mǐn (dish)
Stroke Count: 10 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Hú (Second tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning: Pot; kettle; jar; bottle
Extended Meanings:
- Containers for liquids, especially traditional Chinese pottery or metal vessels
- Specific types of containers used in traditional Chinese culture
Additional Notes: Often refers to containers with a wide base, narrow neck, and a handle or spout for pouring.
4. Common Words
- 茶壶 (chá hú) - Teapot
Example: 我需要一个新茶壶来泡茶。(Wǒ xūyào yīgè xīn chá hú lái pào chá.) - I need a new teapot to make tea.
- 水壶 (shuǐ hú) - Water bottle/kettle
Example: 请帮我在水壶里装满水。(Qǐng bāng wǒ zài shuǐ hú lǐ zhuāng mǎn shuǐ.) - Please help me fill the water bottle with water.
- 酒壶 (jiǔ hú) - Wine pot/flask
Example: 他从酒壶里倒了一杯酒。(Tā cóng jiǔ hú lǐ dào le yībēi jiǔ.) - He poured a glass of wine from the wine flask.
- 暖壶 (nuǎn hú) - Thermos flask
Example: 这个暖壶可以保持水热几个小时。(Zhège nuǎn hú kěyǐ bǎochí shuǐ rè jǐ gè xiǎoshí.) - This thermos flask can keep water hot for several hours.
- 紫砂壶 (zǐ shā hú) - Purple clay teapot
Example: 紫砂壶是中国传统工艺品。(Zǐ shā hú shì zhōngguó chuántǒng gōngyìpǐn.) - Purple clay teapots are traditional Chinese handicrafts.
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Mainly used as a noun
Common Usage:
- Used to refer to various types of containers for holding liquids
- Often combined with other characters to specify the type of container
Common Structures:
- Type + 壶 (e.g., 茶 + 壶 = 茶壶, water + 壶 = 水壶)
- 量词 (measure word) used with 壶: "一把壶" (yī bǎ hú - a pot)
Usage Notes: In modern Chinese, it's more common to use specific terms rather than just 壶 alone.
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the character 壶 has significant cultural meaning:
- Tea Culture: The teapot (茶壶) is central to traditional Chinese tea ceremony, symbolizing hospitality and refinement.
- Artistic Value: Purple clay teapots (紫砂壶) from Yixing are highly prized as both functional items and works of art.
- Historical Significance: Bronze and pottery pots have been excavated from ancient Chinese tombs, indicating their importance in daily life.
- Idioms and Sayings: The character appears in idioms like "悬壶济世" (xuán hú jì shì), which means "to practice medicine to help people."
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
中文: 这个茶壶是我爷爷传给我的。
Pinyin: Zhège chá hú shì wǒ yéye chuán gěi wǒ de.
English: This teapot was passed down to me by my grandfather.
Example 2:
中文: 请往暖壶里加一些热水。
Pinyin: Qǐng wǎng nuǎn hú lǐ jiā yīxiē rè shuǐ.
English: Please add some hot water to the thermos flask.
Example 3:
中文: 这家茶馆收藏了很多名贵的紫砂壶。
Pinyin: Zhè jiā cháguǎn shōucáng le hěn duō míngguì de zǐ shā hú.
English: This teahouse has collected many valuable purple clay teapots.
8. Memory Tips
Here are some tips to help you remember the character 壶:
- Structure Memory: The character consists of 士 (scholar), 冖 (cover), 业 (profession), and 皿 (dish). Imagine a scholar covering his professional tools with a dish - forming a container.
- Sound Association: The pronunciation "hú" sounds similar to the English word "hoo" - imagine the sound of water pouring from a pot.
- Vocabulary Grouping: Group related words together: 茶壶 (teapot), 水壶 (water bottle), 酒壶 (wine flask).
- Stroke Order Practice: Practice writing the character following the correct stroke order to help memorize its structure.
- Cultural Association: Associate the character with traditional Chinese tea culture, which prominently features teapots.