Traditional: 龢
HSK 1

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

我和你。
Wǒ hé nǐ.
You and I.
猫和狗。
Māo hé gǒu.
Cats and dogs.
他和我。
Tā hé wǒ.
He and I.
我喜欢茶和咖啡。
Wǒ xǐhuān chá hē kāfēi.
I like tea and coffee.
她和她的朋友一起去了商店。
Tā hé tā de péngyou yīqǐ qùle shāngdiàn.
She went to the store with her friend.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of the character 和 as a mouth (口) sharing grain (禾), symbolizing bringing things together peacefully—just like 'and' connects items harmoniously in a list.

📝 Usage Notes

It is neutral in tone, suitable for both formal and informal contexts in spoken and written Chinese. It is most commonly used to connect nouns (e.g., people, objects, places) rather than verbs or clauses.

📖 Grammar Points

Used in the structure: Noun A + 和 + Noun B + Verb/Adjective. It connects elements of equal grammatical status. Unlike English 'and', it typically does not connect clauses or sentences directly.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In traditional Chinese culture, harmony (和谐 héxié) is highly valued, and the character 和 itself carries connotations of peace and harmony, which can aid in understanding its connective, non-confrontational use.

🔄 Similar Words

与 (yǔ) and 跟 (gēn) also mean 'and' but 与 is more formal/literary, while 跟 is more colloquial and often implies 'with' in spoken language. 和 is the most general and commonly used.

Master this word with quizzes, flashcards & more

Learn in CILI →

Related Words