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菏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
菏héa river in Shandong provincens, 11 strokes, radical 艹, rank #40961, Very Hard
菏héHe river in Shandongunknown, 11 strokes, radical 艹, rank #40961, Very Hard
hé(He2) T2
  1. 1a river in Shandong province
  2. 2He river in Shandong
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

菏hé(He2)

The character 菏 (hé) refers specifically to the He River located in Shandong province, China. It is often used in geographical contexts or when discussing local features and landmarks associated with this river. The character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, but may appear in more formal or academic discussions about geography.

Strokes11Radical艹Frequency#40961DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The He River plays a significant role in the cultural and historical context of Shandong province, often associated with local legends and agriculture, making it an important aspect of the area's identity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a lush green river (represented by the character's radical '艹' for grass) flowing gently through a field where lotus flowers bloom. The pronunciation 'hé' sounds like 'heh,' which you could associate with a deep breath of fresh air while enjoying the beauty of this river.

Meanings of 菏

hé(He2)
1a river in Shandong province
2He river in Shandong
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 菏

菏Simplified
11Strokes
艹Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 菏

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Podcast: 菏

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AI Study Notes for 菏

Usage Notes

Since 菏 is primarily a proper noun referring to the He River, it is important to use it in contexts related to geography or local history. Avoid using it in casual conversation unless discussing specific locations in Shandong. Ensure the correct pronunciation and tone (second tone) to convey the right meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 菏 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, students at HSK Level 3 and above should focus on proper nouns and their geographical significance. Relating it to other geographical terms can help enrich vocabulary related to local features.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 菏 with other characters that have similar pronunciations or tones. For example, confusing it with '河' (hé, river) can lead to misunderstandings, as 河 is the general term for river rather than a specific one.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 菏

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Etymology of 菏

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A green 艹 river 河; 河 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 菏

  1. 1The giveawayA green 艹 river 河; 河 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 菏? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 菏?

Decomposition of 菏

IDS Structure⿱艹河
菏Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
河he2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 菏?

How to say a river in Shandong province in Chinese

“a river in Shandong province” in Chinese is菏hé

The character 菏 (hé) refers specifically to the He River located in Shandong province, China. It is often used in geographical contexts or when discussing local features and landmarks associated with this river. The character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, but may appear in more formal or academic discussions about geography.

When to use 菏

Since 菏 is primarily a proper noun referring to the He River, it is important to use it in contexts related to geography or local history. Avoid using it in casual conversation unless discussing specific locations in Shandong. Ensure the correct pronunciation and tone (second tone) to convey the right meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 菏 with other characters that have similar pronunciations or tones. For example, confusing it with '河' (hé, river) can lead to misunderstandings, as 河 is the general term for river rather than a specific one.

Write 菏

菏

Practice writing 菏 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 菏

Words Containing This Character3
菏héHe river in Shandong
菏泽Heze prefecture-level city in Shandong菏澤
菏泽市Heze prefecture-level city in Shandong菏澤市
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 菏 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 菏

菏 refers to the He River in Shandong province.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 菏?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.