候hou · hòu
to wait, to expect; to visit; to greet. 10 strokes, radical 亻, first met in HSK 1.
How to write 候
Strokes 1–2 write 亻, then strokes 3–10 write 矦.
Free, with no account: the app draws each stroke, then you write it and it says which stroke went wrong.
Print a 米字格 practice sheet for 候 · the stroke-order rules
What 候 is made of
亻 (rén, man) and 矦 (hóu, target in archery).
亻 carries the meaning — person — and 矦 carries the sound.
Words that use 候
| 气候 | the climate 一个地方长时间的天气情况 这里的气候四季分明，很少下雪。the climate here has four distinct seasons and very little snow. Lesson 116, 天气与阳光 · 壮丽自然与旅行见闻 · Magnificent Nature & Travel Exploration |
| 问候 | a greeting, to send regards 见面或写信时表达关心的话 巡线归来，大家互致亲切问候。Back from patrol, everyone exchanged warm greetings. Lesson 350, 慎终如始与系统稳态 · 研精致思与盛夏清波 · Systemic Precision, Deep Learning & Summer Rhythms |
| 等候 | to wait for, await 指耐心地等待某人或某事发生 技能竞赛大厅里众人静静等候。In the skills-competition hall, everyone waited quietly. Lesson 413, 循序传递 · 权变谋断与山川定序 · Resourcefulness & Territorial Order |
| 时候 | (a point in) time, moment 特定事情发生时所处的那一时刻 不堵车四十五分钟就到。大爷，您中午什么时候休息？Without traffic it's forty-five minutes. Grandpa, what time do you take your midday break? Siyuan Teahouse, lesson 8, 时间与每天的生活 |
| 那时候 | at that time, in those days 指过去提到的那一段时间 那时候乡情却十分深厚。In those days, the bonds of hometown ran deep. Lesson 53, 南方 · 追根溯源与民情物意 · Rural Agriculture, Kinship Bonds & Societal Nuances |
| 小时候 | childhood 指年纪还很小的那段时光 他回忆小时候无忧时光。He recalled the carefree childhood years. Lesson 82, 小时候 · 冰清玉洁与自强不息 · Pure Aspiration, Sincere Faith & Endless Endeavor |
| 这时候 | at this time, right now 指正好是说话时所指的这一刻 这时候欢呼声响彻了工棚。At this time, cheers rang out through the worksite. Lesson 100, 吃中餐 · 返璞归真与立己达人 · Return to Simplicity & Cultivating the Self |
More characters with the radical 亻
All 85 of them, and what the radical means, on the 人 radical page.