Definitions

(noun) river

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "河" is structured with the water radical on the left and the phonetic component "可" on the right, a form that has remained consistent throughout its history. Originally, it served as a proper name specifically for the Yellow River, as evidenced in early textual records. Over centuries, its application widened from this singular referent to become a general term for rivers, reflecting a natural linguistic shift where a specific name evolved into a categorical label. The enduring composition of the character maintains its semantic link to water while the phonetic element continues to guide its pronunciation, showcasing how the character's etymology and structure have supported its expanded meaning without fundamental change.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
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 Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

里有很多鱼。

Hé lǐ yǒu hěn duō yú.

There are many fish in the river.

是中国著名的流。

Huáng Hé shì Zhōngguó zhùmíng de héliú.

The Yellow River is a famous river in China.

我们明天去边野餐。

Wǒmen míngtiān qù hé biān yěcān.

We will go for a picnic by the river tomorrow.

这条流经好几个省份。

Zhè tiáo hé liújīng hǎo jǐ gè shěngfèn.

This river flows through several provinces.

水清澈见底,美丽极了。

Hé shuǐ qīngchè jiàn dǐ, měilì jíle.

The river water is so clear that you can see the bottom, and it is extremely beautiful.

为了保护流环境,我们必须减少污染。

Wèile bǎohù héliú huánjìng, wǒmen bìxū jiǎnshǎo wūrǎn.

In order to protect the river environment, we must reduce pollution.

尽管流湍急,他们还是成功地渡过了。

Jǐnguǎn héliú tuānjí, tāmen háishì chénggōng de dùguòle.

Although the river was swift, they still successfully crossed it.

流的变迁往往反映了当地气候和地质的历史变化。

Héliú de biànqiān wǎngwǎng fǎnyìng le dāngdì qìhòu hé dìzhì de lìshǐ biànhuà.

The changes of rivers often reflect the historical changes of local climate and geology.