Definition
何 (hé) is a formal, literary interrogative pronoun meaning 'how, what, why.' It rarely stands alone in modern speech—it appears in fixed expressions like 如何 (how), 为何 (why), and 何时 (when). It also serves as a common surname (Hé).
pronoun
(interrogative pronoun in fixed expressions) howwhatwhy (in 为何, 如何, 何时, etc.)
noun
a Chinese surname
Easily confused
- 呵hēlook-aliketo exhale, to breathe out (especially onto a surface)
- 和hésound-alike(conjunction) and
- 河hélook-alikeriver
- 和hésound-alikegentle, mild; harmonious
- 喝hēsound-aliketo drink
- 合hésound-aliketo close
- 核hésound-alikepit, stone (of fruit)
Examples
- ？Nǐ wèi hé bú shì shì zhège fāngfǎ?Why don't you try this method?
- ？Zuìjìn shēntǐ rú hé?How is your health recently?
- 何，。Tā xìng hé, shì yí wèi zhùmíng de xuézhě.He is surnamed He and is a famous scholar.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.