ho4荷
Jyutpingho4
Yalehòh
Definition
Lotus; a freshwater plant with large leaves, pink flowers, and nutritious seeds.
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How it's used
While 荷 refers to the plant itself, it is almost always used in compound words like 荷花 for the flower or 荷葉 for the leaf. You will rarely hear 荷 used as a standalone noun in casual conversation. It is deeply associated with traditional Chinese cuisine and aesthetics, appearing frequently in names of dishes and garden features.
Measure word
po1樖pōExamples
There are many lotus flowers planted in this pond.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 荷 with 蓮. Although they are often used interchangeably to refer to the lotus, 荷 specifically emphasizes the plant's leaves and general appearance, whereas 蓮 is more commonly used when referring to the seeds or the root.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
