吼

hǒu
HSK 6
#2,146 most
frequent character
roar or howl of an animal
verb
noun

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

吼 has 口 mouth for the meaning and 孔 for the sound, though the sound link is not clear today. It first meant an angry voice sound, then grew to mean to roar or howl.

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Example Sentences

狮子在山顶上吼叫。
shīzǐ zài shāndǐng shàng hǒujiào 。
The lion roars at the top of the mountain.
他因愤怒而吼了起来。
tā yīn fènnù ér hǒu le qǐlái 。
He started to howl in anger.
这只狗开始吼，吓到了路人。
zhè zhī gǒu kāishǐ hǒu ， xiàdào le lùrén 。
The dog started to roar and frightened the passersby.

Words with similar meanings

咆哮páoxiào
roar
A more intense expression of vocalization, often used in a context of anger or excitement.
吼叫hǒujiào
howl
Similar in meaning but can imply a more mournful or prolonged sound, often associated with wolves or domestic dogs.

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Public Lists with 吼

Feelings & Emotions
Vocabulary for happiness, sadness, anger, fear, love, excitement, etc.
HSK 6
All words for the HSK 6 test
Animals
Domestic and wild animal names, as well as insects, birds, and marine life.