Chinese Character: 祸
1. Character Basics
Radical: 礻 (shì) - Deity radical
Stroke Count: 11 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Huò (Fourth tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning:
- Calamity; disaster; misfortune
- Evil; harm; trouble
- Accident; mishap
Extended Meaning:
- Bad luck; ill fortune
- Danger; peril
- Woe; suffering
Additional Notes: Often used to describe negative events, unfortunate situations, or harmful consequences.
4. Common Words
- 祸事 (huòshì) - Disaster, misfortune
一场祸事发生了。 (Yī chǎng huòshì fāshēng le.) - A disaster happened.
- 祸根 (huògēn) - Root of trouble, source of disaster
贪婪是很多祸事的祸根。 (Tānlán shì hěnduō huòshì de huògēn.) - Greed is the root of many troubles.
- 祸患 (huòhuàn) - Disaster, calamity
我们要预防祸患的发生。 (Wǒmen yào yùfáng huòhuàn de fāshēng.) - We should prevent disasters from happening.
- 祸从口出 (huò cóng kǒu chū) - Disaster comes from the mouth (idiom)
说话要小心，祸从口出。 (Shuōhuà yào xiǎoxīn, huò cóng kǒu chū.) - Be careful with your words; disaster comes from the mouth.
- 祸不单行 (huò bù dān xíng) - Misfortunes never come singly (idiom)
最近他真是祸不单行。 (Zuìjìn tā zhēnshi huò bù dān xíng.) - He has really been having a run of bad luck lately.
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech:
- Noun: Mainly used as a noun referring to disasters or misfortunes
Usage:
- Most commonly used as a noun in both formal and informal contexts
- Often appears in idioms and proverbs
- Can be used in various grammatical structures
Structure:
- 祸 + Noun: 祸源 (huòyuán) - Source of disaster, 祸首 (huòshǒu) - Chief culprit
- Adjective + 祸: 大祸 (dàhuò) - Great disaster, 小祸 (xiǎohuò) - Minor trouble
- Verb + 祸: 招祸 (zhāohuò) - Court disaster, 避祸 (bìhuò) - Avoid disaster
Notes: When used alone, "祸" is often found in literary or classical contexts. In modern Chinese, it is more commonly used in compound words or idiomatic expressions.
6. Cultural Background
The character "祸" has profound cultural significance in Chinese philosophy and traditional beliefs. The radical "礻" (deity) reflects the historical connection between disasters and religious beliefs in ancient China.
In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on the concept of "祸福相依" (huò fú xiāng yī), meaning "calamity and fortune depend on each other" or "misfortune may be a blessing in disguise." This concept comes from the Daoist philosophy of balance between opposites.
Many Chinese proverbs and idioms involving "祸" convey wisdom about avoiding trouble, being cautious with one's words and actions, and maintaining harmony with others and the environment.
7. Example Sentence
这场车祸造成了严重的后果。
Zhè chǎng chēhuò zàochéng le yánzhòng de hòuguǒ.
This car accident caused serious consequences.
我们应该从这次祸事中吸取教训。
Wǒmen yīnggāi cóng zhècì huòshì zhōng xīqǔ jiàoxun.
We should learn a lesson from this disaster.
祸兮福之所倚，福兮祸之所伏。
Huò xī fú zhī suǒ yǐ, fú xī huò zhī suǒ fú.
Calamity is the root of blessing, and blessing is the hiding place of calamity. (Ancient Chinese philosophical saying)
8. Memory Tips
- Component Breakdown: 礻 (deity) + 呙 (a phonetic component) = 祸. The deity radical suggests a connection to divine retribution or fate in traditional beliefs.
- Sound Association: The pronunciation "huò" is the same as "获" (to obtain) and "货" (goods), but with a completely different meaning.
- Image Association: Imagine a dark cloud or storm to represent misfortune or disaster - this can help you remember the meaning of "祸".
- Word Association: Connect it with common words like 祸事 (disaster) and idioms like 祸从口出 (disaster comes from the mouth) to remember its meaning and usage.
- Stroke Order: Practice writing the character following the correct stroke order to help with memorization. Start with the deity radical, then the left part, and finally the right part.