Definitions

(noun) lake

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "湖" for "lake" is a phono-semantic compound formed by combining the water radical "氵" to denote its semantic category with the component "胡" which primarily functions as a phonetic indicator. This structural composition has remained unchanged in its written form. Etymologically, the character has been used since early times to designate a large body of standing water, and its core meaning has stayed focused on that concept without major shifts.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个很大。

Zhège hú hěn dà.

This lake is very big.

里有很多鱼。

Hú lǐ yǒu hěnduō yú.

There are many fish in the lake.

我们在边散步。

Wǒmen zài hú biān sànbù.

We are walking by the lake.

水非常清澈。

Húshuǐ fēicháng qīngchè.

The lake water is very clear.

这个泊很著名。

Zhège húpō hěn zhùmíng.

This lake is very famous.

南的风景很美。

Húnán de fēngjǐng hěn měi.

The scenery in Hunan is very beautiful.

面上倒映着山影。

Húmiàn shàng dàoyìng zhe shān yǐng.

The mountain shadow is reflected on the lake surface.

由于污染,水变得浑浊。

Yóuyú wūrǎn, húshuǐ biàn de húnzhuó.

Due to pollution, the lake water has become turbid.