湖 (hú) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 湖 (hú) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 湖 (hú) means "Lake". It is an HSK Level 2 character, with 12 strokes and the radical 氵.

Q: How do you write 湖 stroke by stroke?

湖 has 12 strokes. The radical is 氵. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 湖 and 流?

湖 (hú) and 流 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 湖?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 氵. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 湖?

Common words containing 湖 include: 湖水 (hú shuǐ) — lake water; 西湖 (xī hú) — West Lake (in Hangzhou); 湖边 (hú biān) — lakeside; by the lake.

How to Write 湖

The character 湖 (hú) is written with 12 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 氵 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

湖 is pronounced hú in Mandarin Chinese. It means Lake.

As an HSK Level 2 character, 湖 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 湖

湖水 hú shuǐ

lake water

西湖 xī hú

West Lake (in Hangzhou)

湖边 hú biān

lakeside; by the lake

Example Sentences

湖水很干净。

hú shuǐ hěn gān jìng

The lake water is very clean.

杭州有西湖。

háng zhōu yǒu xī hú

Hangzhou has the West Lake.

我们去湖边散步。

wǒ men qù hú biān sàn bù

We are going for a walk by the lake.

Similar Characters

流 liú

浙 zhè

浚 jùn

Practice Writing 湖 (hú)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 湖 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 湖

What does 湖 (hú) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 湖 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 湖 and 流?

What mistakes do learners make writing 湖?

What common words use 湖?

How to Write 湖 (hú)