みずうみ

lake

JLPT N4

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The character (hú) primarily means 'lake,' referring to a large inland body of standing freshwater. It is commonly used in geographical names and everyday conversation when talking about natural water bodies.

Common Collocations

  • 湖泊 (húpō): lakes, often used in formal or literary contexts.
  • (húbiān): lakeside, used to describe locations near a lake.
  • (húshuǐ): lake water, often describing the quality or characteristics of the water.

Usage Notes

When using , it typically denotes a natural lake rather than artificial ponds or reservoirs. It is often paired with descriptive words to specify particular lakes or their features. In conversation, is a frequent phrase to indicate activities or locations near a lake.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse with (hé, river) or (hǎi, sea). specifically refers to lakes, which are enclosed bodies of freshwater, unlike flowing rivers or vast seas.

Example Sentences

West Lake is one of China's famous lakes.

The lake water is clear to the bottom, very suitable for swimming.

We plan to go camping by the lake this weekend.