Definitions

(noun) household; family
(noun) door

Etymology

Variant of . Pictograph of a door, similar to the left half of .

About

The character "户" originates as a pictographic representation of a single-leaf door, distinct from a double-door entrance, and this concrete meaning is preserved in words like "门户". Its structural form, which streamlined over time from a more detailed depiction, consistently centers on this concept of an entry point. From denoting the physical doorway, its meaning extended metonymically to signify the household or family unit residing behind that door, as seen in terms like "户口" for household registration. This conceptual shift from an architectural feature to a social and administrative unit represents its primary semantic development, with the traditional form "戶" maintaining a closer visual link to the original pictorial idea.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我打开了窗

Wǒ dǎkāile chuānghu.

I opened the window.

他去办理口。

Tā qù bànlǐ hùkǒu.

He went to handle household registration.

这个用很活跃。

Zhège yònghù hěn huóyuè.

This user is very active.

我经常访问门网站。

Wǒ jīngcháng fǎngwèn ménhù wǎngzhàn.

I often visit portal websites.

许多农种植水稻。

Xǔduō nónghù zhòngzhí shuǐdào.

Many farmers plant rice.

我们的客满意度很高。

Wǒmen de kèhù mǎnyì dù hěn gāo.

Our customer satisfaction is very high.

主需要更新信息。

Hùzhǔ xūyào gēngxīn xìnxī.

The head of household needs to update information.

籍制度改革正在进行中。

Hùjí zhìdù gǎigé zhèngzài jìnxíng zhōng.

The reform of the household registration system is underway.