和 hé and
and; peaceful; harmonious
How to remember 和: 禾 grain + 口 mouth = and. The baker puts a warm grain roll in the toddler's mouth, so she happily walks home with crumbs on her nose and chin.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
和 = 禾 grain + 口 mouth
- 禾 grain sound
- 口 mouth meaning
The baker puts a warm grain roll in the toddler's mouth, so she happily walks home with crumbs on her nose and chin.
How it came to be
The mouth gives the meaning and grain gives the sound.
How it is used
- Mainly 'and', joining two nouns: 我和你 (wǒ hé nǐ) you and me, 茶和咖啡 (chá hé kāfēi) tea and coffee. It does NOT join verbs or whole sentences; for those reach for 也, 还, or 然后.
- A second meaning is 'peaceful/harmonious/mild': 和平 (hépíng) peace, 温和 (wēnhé) gentle, 和谐 (héxié) harmonious.
- Note the reading shifts in 暖和 (nuǎnhuo, warm), where 和 is toneless -huo.
Words with 和
- 暖和nuǎnhuowarmHSK 4
- 和平hépíngpeaceHSK 6
- 和谐héxiéharmoniousHSK 6
- 温和wēnhémildHSK 6
- 亲和力qīnhélìwarmthHSK 7
- 共和国gònghéguórepublicHSK 7
- 和好héhǎoto become reconciledHSK 7
- 和平共处hépínggòngchǔpeaceful coexistence of nations, societies etcHSK 7
- 和气héqifriendlyHSK 7
- 和解héjiěto settle (a dispute out of court)HSK 7
- 平和pínghégentleHSK 7
- 总和zǒnghésumHSK 7
- 调和tiáohéharmoniousHSK 7
- 附和fùhèto agreeHSK 7
- 风和日丽fēnghé-rìlìmoderate wind, beautiful sun (idiom)HSK 7
- 和尚héshangBuddhist monkHSK 8
- 和睦hémùpeaceful relationsHSK 8
- 和蔼hé’ǎikindlyHSK 8
- 饱和bǎohésaturatedHSK 8
- 柔和róuhégentleHSK 9
- 祥和xiánghéauspicious and peacefulHSK 9
- 缓和huǎnhéto ease (tension)HSK 9
Example sentences
- 我和她是同学。 Wǒ hé tā shì tóngxué.She and I are schoolmates.
- 我和妈妈去超市。 Wǒ hé māma qù chāoshì.My mom and I are going to the supermarket.
- 我不想和你说再见。 Wǒ bù xiǎng hé nǐ shuō zàijiàn.I don't want to say goodbye to you.
- 我和妻子一起吃晚饭。 Wǒ hé qīzi yìqǐ chī wǎnfàn.I had supper with my wife.