() — (bound form) stove, furnace (used in compounds such as 炉子, 电炉, 火炉)

Definition

A bound morph meaning 'stove, furnace' — almost never used alone; it appears in compounds like 炉子, 电炉, and 火炉.

bound form
stovefurnace (used in compounds such as 炉子, 电炉, 火炉)

Examples

  • Tā de lú zi shì xīn mǎi de.
    His stove is newly bought.
  • Dōng tiān wǒ xǐ huan yòng huǒ lú qǔ nuǎn.
    In winter I like to heat with a stove.
  • Zhè ge diàn lú gōng lǜ hěn dà.
    This electric furnace has high power.

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
huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
Same sound today

The older form combines 火 (fire) with 盧 (lú) for its sound; the modern 炉 is a later shorthand.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.