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March 24, 2026
胡须(鬍鬚)húxū(hu2xu1)
胡须 (hú xū) refers to facial hair, specifically a beard. It is commonly used in contexts discussing grooming, appearance, or cultural practices involving facial hair. The term can also imply a certain masculinity or maturity in various social settings.
Frequency#11219DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, facial hair has varied significance across different regions and historical periods, often associated with wisdom or social status. Some traditional Chinese scholars are depicted with long beards, reflecting a cultural appreciation for this feature.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wise old man with a long, flowing beard. The character 胡 (hú) can remind you of 'hugh', a name often associated with wise old men, while 须 (xū) looks like a 'mustache' with the top component resembling a nose. Picture this man stroking his beard while contemplating life.
Meanings of 胡须
húxū(hu2xu1)
1beard
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About 胡须
胡须Simplified
鬍鬚Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#11219Frequency Rank
根Measure Word
HSK 2.0L6HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 胡须
Podcast: 胡须
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AI Study Notes for 胡须
Quick Contrast
胡子 (húzi) refers to facial hair in a more general sense, while 胡须 (húxū) specifically denotes a beard, often implying a more mature or masculine appearance.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a wise old man with a long, flowing beard. The character 胡 (hú) can remind you of 'hugh', a name often associated with wise old men, while 须 (xū) looks like a 'mustache' with the top component resembling a nose. Picture this man stroking his beard while contemplating life.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 胡须 with other terms related to facial hair, like 鬍鬚 (hú xū), which is a more formal or literary term. This word is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings, but ensure you use the correct measure word, 根 (gēn), when counting beards.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 胡须 connects to other advanced vocabulary related to body parts and grooming. Students should focus on pronunciation and understanding how this word fits into discussions about identity and cultural norms regarding facial hair.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, facial hair has varied significance across different regions and historical periods, often associated with wisdom or social status. Some traditional Chinese scholars are depicted with long beards, reflecting a cultural appreciation for this feature.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using the wrong measure word, such as saying '一只胡须' instead of '一根胡须'. Also, learners might confuse 胡须 with 鬍鬚, thinking they are interchangeable, but the latter is more formal.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 胡须
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Grammar Patterns of 胡须
胡须 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他下巴上有一小撮____。
He had a small tuft of hair on his chin.
Example Sentences for 胡须 (9)
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1
他下巴上有一小撮胡须。
tā xià bā shàng yǒu yī xiǎo cuō hú xū。
He had a small tuft of hair on his chin.
2
他看着猫舔胡须上的牛奶.
tā kàn zháo māo tiǎn hú xū shàng de niú nǎi.
He watched the cat cleaning the milk off her whiskers.
3
从他的下巴和瘦削的面颊上可以依稀看到刚长出来的胡须.
cóng tā de xià bā hé shòu xiāo de miàn jiá shàng kě yǐ yī xī kàn dào gāng cháng chū lái de hú xū.
A beginning beard faintly shadowed his chin and lean cheeks.
4
他脸部受伤后落下一块难看的伤疤, 所以他留起胡须把它遮住.
tā liǎn bù shòu shāng hòu luò xià yī kuài nán kàn de shāng bā, , suǒ yǐ tā liú qǐ hú xū bǎ tā zhē.
The wound left a nasty mark on his face, so he grew beard over it to hide it.
5
他的胡须和鬓发里夹杂着缕缕银丝。
tā de hú xū hé bìn fā lǐ jiā zá zháo lǚ lǚ yín sī。
Threads of silver ran through his beard and the hair at his temples.
6
他们只得服从剃光胡须的法令.
tā mén zhī dé fú cóng tì guāng hú xū de fǎ líng.
They had to obey the decree that beards be shaved off.
7
他的样子很可怕, 说不上有多大岁数, 头顶秃得厉害,胡须蓬乱.
tā de yàng zǐ hěn kě pà, , shuō bù shàng yǒu duō dà suì, shù , tóu dǐng tū dé, lì hài , hú.
He looked terrible, any age, rather bald with a straggling beard.
He seemed to be fairly old for his moustache was ashen - grey.
9
这位身体高大、胡须拉碴的人耸了耸肩.
zhè wèi shēn tǐ gāo dà、 、 hú xū lā chá de rén sǒng le sǒng.
The big beared man shrugged.
Cultural Notes for 胡须
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, facial hair has varied significance across different regions and historical periods, often associated with wisdom or social status. Some traditional Chinese scholars are depicted with long beards, reflecting a cultural appreciation for this feature.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
Unlike many Western cultures where beards can be a fashion statement, in China, they may also symbolize age, wisdom, and authority, leading to different social perceptions.
Frequently Asked Questions about 胡须
It is pronounced as 'hú xū', with the second syllable being pronounced with a high level tone.
The correct measure word is 根 (gēn), so you would say '一根胡须' for 'one beard'.
While 胡须 generally refers to beards, it can informally include mustaches, but for precision, use 鬍鬚.
