厚

• Pinyin: hòu
• Hanzi breakdown: 厚 = 厂 (cliff) + 日 (sun) + 子 (child) — layers built up under a cliff, suggesting thickness and depth

Meaning

Thick; deep; rich. Describes something with significant depth or density, opposite of 薄 (thin).

Used literally for physical thickness of objects like books, walls, and clothing. Also used figuratively to describe rich flavours (味道很厚), deep friendships (感情深厚), or generous character (为人忠厚). Common collocations include 厚厚的 (very thick), 厚度 (thickness), and 深厚 (profound).

Examples

1. 冬天要穿厚一点的衣服。 In winter you should wear thicker clothes.
2. 这本词典很厚，有一千多页。 This dictionary is very thick, with more than a thousand pages.
3. 地上有一层厚厚的雪。 There is a thick layer of snow on the ground.

Usage Guide

Context: description, everyday, weather

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 这件外套够厚吗？(Is this coat thick enough?)
• 他们之间的友谊很深厚。(The friendship between them is very deep.)

Don't Say

• 这条河很厚 (Don't use 厚 for water depth — use 深; 厚 describes the thickness of flat or layered objects, not depth of bodies of water)

Origin & History

An ancient character depicting a cliff face (厂) with layers underneath, suggesting depth and thickness.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal