河 hé river
How to remember 河: 氵 water + 可 may = river. The water may get less and less in the river because of climate change.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
河 = 氵 water + 可 may
- 氵 water meaning
- 可 may sound
- 丁 male adult
- 口 mouth
The water may get less and less in the river because of climate change.
How it came to be
The oldest forms vary, but most join water for the meaning with a part for the sound.
How it is used
- River, counted with 条: 一条河 (yì tiáo hé) a river; 河流 (héliú) rivers/waterways collectively.
- 河 tends to smaller rivers and northern names (黄河 the Yellow River), while 江 (jiāng) marks great southern rivers (长江 the Yangtze): the two aren't interchangeable in names.
- 运河 (yùnhé) is a canal, a man-made 河.
Words with 河
Example sentences
- 河水的水位大概是6米。 Héshuǐ de shuǐwèi dàgài shì liù mǐ.The water level of the river is about six meters.
- 黄河是中国的第二大河。 Huánghé shì Zhōngguó de dì èr dà hé.The Yellow River is the second longest river in China.
- 这条河向东流。 Zhè tiáo hé xiàng dōng liú.This river flows east.
- 橡皮筏在河里颠簸着。 Xiàngpífá zài hé lǐ diānbǒzhe.The rubber raft tossed about on the river.