Learn a Chinese Character - 湖 (Hú - Lake; a large body of water surrounded by land; large inland bodies of water; lakeside; lake water)

1. Character Basics

Radical: 氵/shuǐ (water) + 胡/hú (foreign)

Stroke Count: 12 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Hú (Second tone)

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning: Lake; a large body of water surrounded by land

Extended Meanings:

• Large inland bodies of water
• Used metaphorically to describe something vast or extensive

Additional Notes: In Chinese geography, many famous lakes have cultural significance and are often mentioned in poetry and literature.

4. Common Words

• 湖泊 (hú pō) - Lakes
  Example: 中国有很多美丽的湖泊。(Zhōngguó yǒu hěn duō měilì de hú pō.) - China has many beautiful lakes.
• 湖水 (hú shuǐ) - Lake water
  Example: 湖水清澈见底。(Hú shuǐ qīngchè jiàn dǐ.) - The lake water is crystal clear.
• 西湖 (Xī Hú) - West Lake (famous lake in Hangzhou)
  Example: 西湖是杭州最著名的景点之一。(Xī Hú shì Hángzhōu zuì zhùmíng de jǐngdiǎn zhī yī.) - West Lake is one of the most famous scenic spots in Hangzhou.
• 湖边 (hú biān) - Lakeside
  Example: 我们在湖边散步。(Wǒmen zài hú biān sàn bù.) - We are walking along the lakeside.
• 湖心 (hú xīn) - Center of the lake
  Example: 湖心有一个小岛。(Hú xīn yǒu yīgè xiǎo dǎo.) - There is a small island in the center of the lake.

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Mainly used as a noun

Common Usage:

• Used to refer to natural or artificial lakes
• Often combined with other characters to specify locations, features, or activities related to lakes

Common Structures:

• 湖 + 位置 (e.g., 湖东, 湖边)
• 修饰词 + 湖 (e.g., 大湖, 美丽的湖)
• 量词 (measure word) used with 湖: "一个湖" (yī gè hú - a lake), "一片湖" (yī piàn hú - a lake)

Usage Notes: When referring to specific lakes, the character is often part of proper nouns (e.g., 西湖, 太湖).

6. Cultural Background

Lakes hold significant cultural importance in Chinese civilization:

• Literary Inspiration: Many famous lakes, such as West Lake (西湖) in Hangzhou and Dongting Lake (洞庭湖) in Hunan, have been the subject of countless poems, paintings, and literary works.
• Tourism and Recreation: Lakes are important tourist destinations and places of relaxation in Chinese culture.
• Historical Significance: Some lakes have played important roles in Chinese history, serving as transportation routes, defensive barriers, or sources of water for agriculture.
• Symbolism: Lakes are often used symbolically in Chinese culture to represent tranquility, purity, and timeless beauty.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

Here are some tips to help you remember the character 湖:

• Structure Memory: The character consists of 氵 (water radical) and 胡. Since 胡 means "foreign" or "bearded," you can imagine a "foreign" body of water or a lake with waves that look like a beard.
• Sound Association: The pronunciation "hú" sounds similar to the English word "who" - you can ask, "Who is in the lake?"
• Vocabulary Grouping: Group related words together: 湖泊 (lakes), 湖水 (lake water), 湖边 (lakeside).
• Stroke Order Practice: Practice writing the character following the correct stroke order, starting with the water radical.
• Visual Association: Imagine a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains, which is a common scene in traditional Chinese paintings.