How to Write 壶 (hú) — Meaning “Pot / Kettle / Flask”

Imagine a scholar (士) putting a roof-shaped lid (冖) on a business (业) pot to keep it safe. This visual story helps you recall that 壶 means a pot or kettle. The three parts together create a clear picture of a covered container.

Write the top 士 first with three strokes, then the middle 冖 as a wide roof shape, and finally the bottom 业 with five strokes. Be careful that the 冖 covers the 业 evenly, and avoid making the 冖 too narrow or the 业 too tall. Common mistakes include misaligning the bottom part or adding extra strokes.

壶 has the bottom part 业 (enterprise), while 壴 has 豆 (bean) at the bottom and means a drum, and 壹 also has 豆 but means the number one (used in finance). Visually, 壶 looks like a pot with a flat base, whereas 壴 is taller with a drum shape, and 壹 has a different balance. Remember that 壶 is about containers, not drum or number.

壶 is commonly used for everyday vessels like 茶壶 (teapot), 水壶 (kettle), and 暖壶 (thermos). In Chinese tea culture, the 茶壶 is central to ceremonies, and the character appears in idioms like "壶中日月" (the days and months in a pot), referring to a carefree life. You will see it on products and in cooking contexts.

Common words containing 壶 include: 茶壶 (chá hú) — teapot; 水壶 (shuǐ hú) — Kettle; 暖壶 (nuǎn hú) — thermos; vacuum flask.