河

• Pinyin: hé
• Hanzi breakdown: 河 = 氵(water radical) + 可 (phonetic component)

Meaning

River. A natural flowing body of water, typically smaller than a 江 (large river).

Used for rivers in general, especially medium and smaller rivers. In northern China, 河 is the default word for river. The Yellow River is called 黄河. Also appears in compound words like 河边 (riverside).

Examples

1. 这条河的水很清。 The water in this river is very clear.
2. 孩子们在河边玩。 The children are playing by the river.
3. 我们沿着河走了很远。 We walked a long way along the river.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, nature, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 河里有很多鱼。(There are many fish in the river.)
• 我家旁边有一条小河。(There is a small river next to my home.)

Don't Say

• 不要把大海叫河 (Don't call the ocean a 河 — use 海 for the sea and 河 for rivers)

Origin & History

Originally referred specifically to the Yellow River (黄河). Over time it generalized to mean any river. Pictographic origins depict flowing water.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal