乎
interrogative/exclamatory particle
At a glance · 乎
Evolution of the glyph
Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.
「乎」甲骨文像气出之形，本义为呼气，象形。后借为语气词，表疑问、感叹、停顿。隶楷作「乎」。属象形而假借为虚词。
What the sketch shows
Origins & notes
本义为呼气，借为句末/句中语气词。
Structure
象形字，象气息呼出之形；后假借为虚词。
At a glance
Pinyinhū
Radical丿
Strokes5
UnicodeU+4E4E
Character type象形
Theme虚词
Six languages, one character
Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.
English
interrogative/exclamatory particle
An interrogative or exclamatory final particle.
Français
particule interrogative/exclamative
Une particule interrogative ou exclamative finale.
Español
partícula interrogativa/exclamativa
Una partícula interrogativa o exclamativa final.
العربية
أداة استفهام/تعجب
أداة استفهام أو تعجب في نهاية الجملة.
Русский
вопросительная/восклицательная частица
Вопросительная или восклицательная частица.
Common words
- 乎hūparticle
- 在乎zài hūcare