hòu
noun #9,517

Meanings

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

Examples

Xiǎoshíhou wǒ hěn tiáopí.
I was naughty when I was little.
Shénme shíhou jiànmiàn?
When shall we meet?
Qǐng zài zhèlǐ děnghòu.
Please wait here.

Tips

usage
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 (hòu, to wait) with (hóu, marquis) — they differ by one stroke.

Components

radical
rén
person (radical form of 人)
Left person radical (side-form of , Kangxi #9) — a standing figure shown from the side. Anchors in the family of human-condition verbs: (wait), (watch), (await). Originally pictured a sentry stationed to watch and report — a person on lookout duty. The radical states 'this is something a person does'.
phonetic
hóu
marquis (archaic form of 侯)
Right supplies the sound — hóu shifted to hòu, only tone differs. is the archaic form of (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

hòu