Meaning and Usage
The character 河 primarily means 'river' and refers to natural flowing water bodies. It is commonly used in geographical names and everyday conversation when talking about rivers.
Common Collocations
- 黄河 (Huáng Hé): The Yellow River, a famous river in China.
- 河水 (hé shuǐ): river water.
- 河边 (hé biān): riverside.
Usage Notes
河 is a straightforward noun and does not change form. It is often combined with other words to specify particular rivers or aspects related to rivers. Unlike 江 (jiāng), which also means river but often refers to larger or southern rivers, 河 is more general and can be used for many rivers.
Avoiding Confusion
Do not confuse 河 with 河流 (hé liú), which means 'river flow' or 'rivers' collectively. 河 alone refers to a single river. Also, 河 is not used for man-made canals; for those, 运河 (yùnhé) is used.