和 hé and
and; peaceful; harmonious
How to remember 和: 禾 grain + 口 mouth = and. The baker puts a warm grain roll in the toddler's mouth, so she happily walks home with crumbs on her nose and chin.
Component breakdown
和 = 禾 grain + 口 mouth
- 禾 grain
- 口 mouth
The baker puts a warm grain roll in the toddler's mouth, so she happily walks home with crumbs on her nose and chin.
How it is used
- Mainly 'and', joining two nouns - 我和你 (wǒ hé nǐ) you and me, 茶和咖啡 (chá hé kāfēi) tea and coffee. It does NOT join verbs or whole sentences; for those reach for 也, 还, or 然后.
- A second meaning is 'peaceful/harmonious/mild': 和平 (hépíng) peace, 温和 (wēnhé) gentle, 和谐 (héxié) harmonious.
- Note the reading shifts in 暖和 (nuǎnhuo, warm), where 和 is toneless -huo.
Words with 和
- 暖和nuǎnhuowarmHSK 4
- 和平hépíngpeaceHSK 6
- 和谐héxiéharmoniousHSK 6
- 温和wēnhémildHSK 6
- 亲和力qīnhélìwarmthHSK 7
- 共和国gònghéguórepublicHSK 7
- 和好héhǎoto become reconciledHSK 7
- 和平共处hépínggòngchǔpeaceful coexistence of nations, societies etcHSK 7
- 和气héqifriendlyHSK 7
- 和解héjiěto settle (a dispute out of court)HSK 7
- 平和pínghégentleHSK 7
- 总和zǒnghésumHSK 7
- 调和tiáohéharmoniousHSK 7
- 附和fùhèto agreeHSK 7
- 风和日丽fēnghé-rìlìmoderate wind, beautiful sun (idiom)HSK 7
- 和尚héshangBuddhist monkHSK 8
- 和睦hémùpeaceful relationsHSK 8
- 和蔼hé’ǎikindlyHSK 8
- 饱和bǎohésaturatedHSK 8
- 柔和róuhégentleHSK 9
- 祥和xiánghéauspicious and peacefulHSK 9
- 缓和huǎnhéto ease (tension)HSK 9
Example sentences
- 我和她是同学。 Wǒ hé tā shì tóngxué.She and I are schoolmates.
- 我和妈妈去超市。 Wǒ hé māma qù chāoshì.My mom and I are going to the supermarket.
- 我不想和你说再见。 Wǒ bù xiǎng hé nǐ shuō zàijiàn.I don't want to say goodbye to you.
- 我和妻子一起吃晚饭。 Wǒ hé qīzi yìqǐ chī wǎnfàn.I had supper with my wife.