Chinese Character: 货
1. Character Basics
Radical: 贝 (bèi) - Shell/Valuable radical
Stroke Count: 8 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Huò (Fourth tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning:
- Goods; merchandise; products
- Cargo; freight
- Money; currency
Extended Meaning:
- Commodity; article of trade
- Material; stuff
- Thing; object
Additional Notes: Often used in commercial and economic contexts, related to trade and exchange.
4. Common Words
- 货物 (huòwù) - Goods, merchandise
这些货物需要明天运走。 (Zhèxiē huòwù xūyào míngtiān yùnzǒu.) - These goods need to be shipped tomorrow.
- 货币 (huòbì) - Currency, money
不同国家有不同的货币。 (Bùtóng guójiā yǒu bùtóng de huòbì.) - Different countries have different currencies.
- 百货 (bǎihuò) - General merchandise
我们去百货商店买东西吧。 (Wǒmen qù bǎihuò shāngdiàn mǎi dōngxi ba.) - Let's go shopping at the department store.
- 订货 (dìnghuò) - To order goods
我们已经向工厂订货了。 (Wǒmen yǐjīng xiàng gōngchǎng dìnghuò le.) - We have already ordered goods from the factory.
- 交货 (jiāohuò) - To deliver goods
他们将在下周交货。 (Tāmen jiāng zài xiàzhōu jiāohuò.) - They will deliver the goods next week.
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech:
- Noun: Referring to goods, merchandise, or cargo
Usage:
- Most commonly used as a noun, often in compound words related to trade and commerce
- Can be used in both formal and informal contexts
- Often combined with other characters to form words related to buying, selling, and trading
Structure:
- Adjective + 货: 干货 (gānhuò) - Dried goods, 鲜货 (xiānhuò) - Fresh goods
- 货 + Noun: 货车 (huòchē) - Truck, 货船 (huòchuán) - Cargo ship
- Verb + 货: 进货 (jìn huò) - To stock goods, 出货 (chū huò) - To ship goods
Notes: In modern Chinese, "货" is most commonly used in commercial contexts and is rarely used alone except in certain idiomatic expressions.
6. Cultural Background
The character "货" has a rich cultural background related to Chinese economic history. The radical "贝" (shell) reflects ancient Chinese currency systems, where shells were used as money.
Throughout Chinese history, "货" has been closely associated with trade and commerce. In traditional Chinese society, merchants were sometimes referred to as "货郎" (huòláng), meaning "peddlers" or "merchants."
In contemporary China, with the rise of e-commerce and global trade, the character "货" is more relevant than ever, appearing in numerous new words related to modern commerce and logistics.
7. Example Sentence
这家商店有各种各样的货物。
Zhè jiā shāngdiàn yǒu gè zhǒng gè yàng de huòwù.
This store has all kinds of goods.
我们需要用当地货币购买这些货物。
Wǒmen xūyào yòng dāngdì huòbì gòumǎi zhèxiē huòwù.
We need to use local currency to buy these goods.
物流公司负责运输这些货物到全国各地。
Wùliú gōngsī fùzé yùnshū zhèxiē huòwù dào quánguó gèdì.
The logistics company is responsible for transporting these goods to all parts of the country.
8. Memory Tips
- Component Breakdown: 化 (huà) + 贝 (bèi) = 货 (huò). 贝 (bèi) is the radical meaning "shell" or "valuable," which relates to the concept of goods and money.
- Sound Association: The pronunciation "huò" is similar to "获" (huò, to obtain), which can help with memorization. Think of "obtaining goods."
- Image Association: Imagine a marketplace with various goods for sale - this can help you remember the meaning of "货."
- Word Association: Connect it with common words like 货物 (goods) and 货币 (currency) to remember its meaning and usage.
- Stroke Order: Practice writing the character following the correct stroke order to help with memorization. Start with the 化 part, then add the 贝 radical.