() — to drink

Definition

A basic transitive verb meaning 'to drink' (water, tea, coffee, etc.). 饮料 names the drink itself; 喝 is the action of consuming it.

verb
to drink

Examples

  • Wǒ hē shuǐ.
    I drink water.
  • Nǐ hē chá ma?
    Do you drink tea?
  • Wǒ bù hē kā fēi.
    I don't drink coffee.

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
kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
Same sound today

The 口 part is a mouth. The 曷 part gives the sound.

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