胡 (hú) - Hu — a surname & refers to non-Han peoples from the north and

胡Tone 2

hú ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

胡 · hú

Hu — a surname;

refers to non-Han peoples from the north and west in ancient China;

also means recklessly, wildly, or why.

Hu — a surnamerefers to non-Han peoples from the north andalso means recklessly, wildly, or why.

Usage highlights

Hu surnamenorthern barbariansnonsensereckless spendingpepperwhiskers

Synonyms

  • 蛮— barbarian, savage (similar ethnic designation)
  • 夷— eastern barbarian (similar foreign designation)

Antonyms

  • 华— Chinese, civilized (antonym to barbarian sense)
  • 夏— Chinese civilization (antonym to foreign sense)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He has the surname Hu (姓胡).
  • Ancient northern tribes were called Hu (胡人).
  • Why are you saying that?(胡说什么?)
  • He spent money recklessly (胡花钱).
  • Pepper is called hujiao (胡椒).

Collocations

  • Hu surname(胡姓)
  • northern barbarians(胡人)
  • nonsense(胡说)
  • reckless spending(胡花)
  • pepper(胡椒)
  • whiskers(胡须)

Idioms

  • Talking nonsense(胡说八道)
  • Barbarian chaos(胡搅蛮缠)
  • Acting recklessly(胡作非为)
  • Northern barbarians and Yue people(胡越一家)
  • Barbarian horsemen(胡骑)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically used to refer to northern nomadic peoples beyond China's borders.
  • The character carries connotations of foreignness and sometimes barbarism in classical texts.
  • As a surname, Hu is one of the most common Chinese surnames with ancient origins.
  • In modern usage, often appears in words indicating randomness or lack of reason.

FAQ