葫芦

葫蘆

húlu

noun #18,208

Measure Word

一个葫芦 gè

Meanings

1 calabash; bottle gourd
2 gourd (as a container)

Characters

reed (phonetic)

Examples

他在葫芦上画了花纹。

Tā zài húlu shàng huà le huāwén.

He painted patterns on a gourd.

我不知道他葫芦里卖的什么药。

Wǒ bù zhīdào tā húlu lǐ mài de shénme yào.

I don't know what he's up to. (Lit: I don't know what medicine he's selling in his gourd.)

Tips

culture

葫芦里卖的什么药 (what medicine is in the gourd) is a common idiom meaning 'what is someone secretly planning.' Gourds were traditionally used to carry medicine in China.

In Pop Culture

葫芦兄弟 Húlu Xiōngdì

Calabash Brothers

classic 1986 Chinese animated series about seven gourd brothers

Stroke Order

葫 hú

芦 lu