(huǒ) — wr. many; much

Definition

Written/literary adjective meaning 'many, numerous', almost always paired with 甚 (甚夥) in set phrases. Reserved for formal writing; for everyday speech use 多.

adjective
wr. manymuch

Examples

  • Zhè piàn sēn lín lǐ de dòng wù zhǒng lèi shèn huǒ.
    The variety of animal species in this forest is very numerous.
  • Tā shōu cáng de gǔ jí shèn huǒ.
    The ancient books he has collected are numerous.
  • Cān jiā cǐ cì huì yì de rén shù shèn huǒ.
    The number of people attending this conference is very large.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Sound part声符shēngfú
guǒhuǒ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

夥 is made of 多, meaning many, and 果, which is used for its sound.

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