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March 24, 2026
虎hǔ(hu3)
The character 虎 (hǔ) means 'tiger,' a symbol of strength and bravery in Chinese culture. It is commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, often to describe someone who is fierce or courageous. Additionally, it is sometimes used as a surname.
Strokes8Radical虎Frequency#3769DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the tiger is one of the twelve zodiac animals and is associated with power and bravery. It is often depicted in art and folklore, symbolizing protection and strength.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fierce tiger (虎) prowling through the jungle, its stripes resembling the character's two horizontal lines. The 'h' sound in 'hǔ' can be remembered by thinking of the roar of a tiger, which sounds like 'hrrr.'
Meanings of 虎
hǔ(hu3)
1tiger
2tiger; brave, fierce; surname
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 虎
虎Simplified
8Strokes
虎Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3769Frequency Rank
只Measure Word
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 虎
Podcast: 虎
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AI Study Notes for 虎
Quick Contrast
豹 (bào) - choose 虎 when referring specifically to 'tiger' as a symbol of strength, while 豹 refers to 'leopard,' which has different connotations.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a fierce tiger (虎) prowling through the jungle, its stripes resembling the character's two horizontal lines. The 'h' sound in 'hǔ' can be remembered by thinking of the roar of a tiger, which sounds like 'hrrr.'
Usage Notes
In informal contexts, 虎 can describe someone as brave or fierce, while in formal settings, it refers strictly to the animal. Be careful with the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely. Common collocations include 虎口 (hǔkǒu), meaning 'tiger's mouth,' which refers to a dangerous situation.
HSK Study Tips
Though 虎 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it connects with other animal characters and vocabulary related to bravery and strength. Students should focus on recognizing the character in various contexts and practicing its pronunciation and tones.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the tiger is one of the twelve zodiac animals and is associated with power and bravery. It is often depicted in art and folklore, symbolizing protection and strength.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is mispronouncing 虎 as 'hū,' which would convey a different meaning. Always remember to use the falling-rising tone 'hǔ' to retain its correct meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 虎
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Grammar Patterns of 虎
虎 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.
You flung away that last line. We couldn't hear you.
Cultural Notes for 虎
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the tiger is one of the twelve zodiac animals and is associated with power and bravery. It is often depicted in art and folklore, symbolizing protection and strength.
Word Family of 虎
Compounds29
唬hu3to intimidate; to scare
彪biao1tiger; a tiger's stripes; like a tiger
琥hu3amber, tigers-eye
猇xiao1a tiger's roar; to intimidate; to scare
箎
虒si1an amphibious beast resembling a tiger with one horn; place name
虓
虢Guo2an ancient feudal State in Shenxi and Hunan
虣
虥
虩
覤
諕
俿
婋
椃
淲
甝
萀
虝
號hao4mark, sign; symbol; number; to call, to cry, to roar
虠
虤
虦
虪
裭
贙
錿
鯱
Words Containing This Character20
虎hǔtiger
老虎lǎohǔtiger
猛虎fierce tiger
雅虎Yahoo, Internet portal
龙虎outstanding people龍虎
马虎mǎhucareless馬虎
虎视眈眈to eye covetously虎視眈眈
虎口tiger's den
壁虎gecko
生龙活虎fig. vigorous and lively生龍活虎
狼吞虎咽lángtūnhǔyànto gorge oneself狼吞虎嚥
马马虎虎careless馬馬虎虎
美洲虎jaguar
老虎机slot machine老虎機
虎子tiger cub
白虎(slang) hairless female genitalia
母老虎tigress
拦路虎stumbling block攔路虎
东北虎Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)東北虎
纸老虎paper tiger紙老虎
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 唬 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 虎
In Chinese culture, the tiger is regarded as a symbol of power, bravery, and protection. It is one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac and is associated with the element of wood. Tigers are believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.
The character 虎 is pronounced as 'hǔ' in Mandarin. The 'h' is a breathy sound, and the 'ǔ' has a falling tone, pronounced as if you are making an exclamation. Listening to native speakers can help you get the pronunciation right.
虎 (hǔ) means 'tiger' in Chinese, and it can also imply bravery or fierceness. It is commonly used in various cultural contexts, symbolizing strength and power. In addition, 虎 can be a surname in Chinese.
To use 虎 in a sentence, you might say, '这只虎非常强壮' (Zhè zhī hǔ fēicháng qiángzhuàng), which means 'This tiger is very strong.' You can also use it metaphorically to describe someone brave, like '他像虎一样勇敢' (Tā xiàng hǔ yīyàng yǒnggǎn), meaning 'He is brave like a tiger.'
The correct pronunciation is 'hǔ' with a falling-rising tone.
Yes, 虎 is often used in idiomatic expressions like 虎虎生威 (hǔ hǔ shēng wēi), meaning 'to show one's strength and power.'
Yes, during the Spring Festival, decorations with tigers might be used for those born in the Year of the Tiger.
