HSK 5, ng, 12 strokes, radical 犭, rank #5471, Hard
猴
hóu
>只[zhī]
HSK 5, ng, 12 strokes, radical 犭, rank #5471, Hard
猴
hóu
monkey, ape; like a monkey
HSK 5, ng, 12 strokes, radical 犭, rank #5471, Hard
hóu(hou2) T2
1monkey
2>只[zhī]
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March 24, 2026
猴hóu(hou2)
The character 猴 (hóu) refers to a monkey, a highly intelligent and social animal often associated with playfulness and mischief. It is commonly used in zoological contexts as well as in idiomatic expressions to describe someone behaving in a silly or childish manner.
Strokes12Radical犭Frequency#5471DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the monkey holds a significant place in the zodiac, symbolizing cleverness and resourcefulness. The Year of the Monkey is often seen as a time of change and opportunity.
Memory Tip
Imagine a mischievous monkey swinging from tree branches, shouting 'hóu' as it plays. The left side of the character, 猫 (māo, cat), hints at animals, while the right side, 侯 (hóu), can remind you of a noble figure in a story, making you think of an 'honorable monkey'.
Meanings of 猴
hóu(hou2)
1monkey
2monkey, ape; like a monkey
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 猴
猴Simplified
12Strokes
犭Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#5471Frequency Rank
只Measure Word
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 猴
Podcast: 猴
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AI Study Notes for 猴
Quick Contrast
猩猩 (xīngxing) — use 猴 for monkeys in general, while 猩猩 specifically refers to orangutans.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a mischievous monkey swinging from tree branches, shouting 'hóu' as it plays. The left side of the character, 猫 (māo, cat), hints at animals, while the right side, 侯 (hóu), can remind you of a noble figure in a story, making you think of an 'honorable monkey'.
Usage Notes
When using 猴, remember that it is often a more informal term. Common collocations include 猴子 (hóuzi) for 'monkey' or expressions like '猴年' (hóu nián) for 'Year of the Monkey'. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words to ensure clarity.
HSK Study Tips
While 猴 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful to recognize as it relates to animals, which are common in beginner lessons. Focus on its pronunciation and context in phrases, as well as its classifiers when learning about animals.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the monkey holds a significant place in the zodiac, symbolizing cleverness and resourcefulness. The Year of the Monkey is often seen as a time of change and opportunity.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 猴 (hóu) with 侯 (hóu), which means 'marquis' or 'noble'. It's important to remember that 猴 specifically refers to monkeys. For example, saying '我有一个侯' (I have a marquis) instead of '我有一个猴' (I have a monkey) changes the meaning entirely.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 猴
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Grammar Patterns of 猴
猴 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 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
猕____桃正是健康的小点心。
Kiwi fruit are just the thing for a healthy snack.
Common Confusions with 猴
猴vs候
hòu
Same tone but different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "monkey"?
or
Example Sentences for 猴 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
猕猴桃正是健康的小点心。
mí hóu táo zhèng shì jiàn kāng de xiǎo diǎn xīn。
Kiwi fruit are just the thing for a healthy snack.
2
他故意的上下颠动车把,摇这个老猴子几下.
tā gù yì de shàng xià diān dòng chē bǎ, , yáo zhè gè lǎo hóu zǐ jī.
He deliberately jerked the shafts to rock him a bit.
3
老猴子并没说什么,祥子反倒有点不得劲儿.
lǎo hóu zǐ bìng méi shuō shí mó, , xiáng zǐ fǎn dǎo yǒu diǎn bù dé jìn.
Mr. Xia said nothing which made Xiangzi felt uncomfortable.
4
猴子在树上吱吱地叫着。
hóu zǐ zài shù shàng zhī zhī dì jiào zháo。
Monkeys were screeching in the trees.
5
埃达有一张布满皱纹、长得像猿猴的脸。
āi dá yǒu yī zhāng bù mǎn zhòu wén、 、 cháng dé xiàng yuán hóu de。
Ada had a wrinkled, simian face.
6
这些猴子已经注射了由受感染的细胞培养而成的疫苗。
zhè xiē hóu zǐ yǐ jīng zhù shè le yóu shòu gǎn rǎn de xì bāo péi yǎng ér chéng de yì miáo。
The monkeys had been immunized with a vaccine made from infected cells.
The monkey was up the tree, flinging nuts to the ground.
8
懒猴已经为数不多了, 我们一定要保护它们!
lǎn hóu yǐ jīng wéi shù bù duō le, , wǒ mén yī dìng yào bǎo hù tā!
We must protect loris, for there are few left in the world.
9
他是个短小精干的爱尔兰人, 非常自负, 丑得象只猴子.
tā shì gè duǎn xiǎo jīng gān de ài ěr lán rén, , fēi cháng zì, fù , chǒu dé xiàng zhī.
He was a dapper little Irishman, very vain, homely as a monkey.
10
猴子伸臂去摘桃子.
hóu zǐ shēn bì qù zhāi táo zǐ.
The monkey made a long arm for the peach.
Cultural Notes for 猴
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the monkey holds a significant place in the zodiac, symbolizing cleverness and resourcefulness. The Year of the Monkey is often seen as a time of change and opportunity.
