p8nda
p8nda BETA
Home Dictionary Translate Flashcards

候

hòu
noun #9,517

Meanings

  1. 1 to wait; to await
  2. 2 time; season
  3. 3 climate; weather conditions

Examples

HSK 2
请在这里等候。
Qǐng zài zhèlǐ děnghòu.
Please wait here.
HSK 3
什么时候见面？
Shénme shíhou jiànmiàn?
When shall we meet?
HSK 5
小时候我很调皮。
Xiǎoshíhou wǒ hěn tiáopí.
I was naughty when I was little.

Tips

usage
候 is most commonly seen in 时候 (time/when) and 等候 (to wait). Also: 气候 (climate), 候选人 (candidate), 问候 (to send regards). Don't confuse 候 (to wait) with 侯 (marquis) - they differ by one stroke.

Components

radical
亻 rén
person (radical form of 人)
Left person radical (side-form of 人, Kangxi #9) - a standing figure shown from the side. Anchors 候 in the family of human-condition verbs: 待 (wait), 伺 (watch), 候 (await). Originally 候 pictured a sentry stationed to watch and report - a person on lookout duty. The radical states 'this is something a person does'.
phonetic
矦 hóu
marquis (archaic form of 侯)
Right 矦 supplies the sound - hóu shifted to hòu, only tone differs. 矦 is the archaic form of 侯 (marquis), pictographically an arrow striking a target - becoming a noble through archery. With the person radical, the picture is 'the one who awaits the lord's signal', preserved in 等候 (await), 时候 (time), 候鸟 (migratory bird arriving with the season).

Stroke Order

候 hòu