水壶

• Pinyin: shuǐ hú
• Hanzi breakdown: 水 = water; 壶 = 士 (person) + 冂 (container outline) + 亚 (interior pattern) — an enclosed container held by a person

Meaning

Kettle; water flask. A vessel with a handle and spout used for boiling or carrying water.

Can refer to a stovetop or electric kettle (烧水壶) or a portable water bottle (军用水壶, 保温水壶). In Chinese daily life, boiling water before drinking is a deeply ingrained habit, making 水壶 a ubiquitous household item.

Examples

1. 她把水壶放在火上，等水烧开后冲茶。 She set the kettle on the stove and waited for the water to boil before making tea.
2. 登山时，每人都要携带一个装满水的水壶。 When hiking, everyone needs to carry a water bottle filled with water.
3. 电热水壶比传统水壶更加省时省力。 An electric kettle is more time-saving and less effort than a traditional kettle.

Usage Guide

Context: household, outdoor, daily life

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 出门前记得把水壶装满，山路上没有补给站。(Remember to fill your water flask before setting out — there are no supply points on the mountain trail.)
• 办公室里的电热水壶坏了，大家只好去楼下买水喝。(The electric kettle in the office broke down, so everyone had to go downstairs to buy water.)

Don't Say

• 水壶 and 热水瓶 are not interchangeable — 热水瓶 (thermos flask) is insulated and keeps water hot for hours, while 水壶 is for boiling or general carrying

Origin & History

水 (water) + 壶 (pot, flask) — a vessel specifically for water

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal