候 is a Chinese character with 10 strokes, radical 亻 (person), HSK 1 on the new exam.
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
候 does not appear in oracle bone script with its current form. It is a later derivation of 侯 (marquis, originally a pictograph of an arrow striking a target cloth used in archery rituals), with the 亻 (person) radical added and a vertical stroke inserted to distinguish the two characters. The original 侯 depicted archery targets hung for feudal lords to shoot at.
Form evolution
Because 候 was differentiated from 侯 relatively late, its clearest forms appear from the seal script onward, where a small vertical stroke was inserted into the 侯 component to mark the new character. Clerical script regularised the strokes into the boxy structure still visible today, and the modern 楷书 form preserves the 亻 on the left with the modified 侯-like element on the right. The inserted distinguishing stroke is sometimes misread by learners as part of 矢 (arrow).
How the meaning evolved
The earliest senses cluster around watching and waiting, likely extended from the idea of a sentry or scout posted at a distance, which connects loosely to the archery-target imagery of 侯. From there it developed the meanings of awaiting, greeting, and inquiring after someone's wellbeing, and later the sense of a period or season of time (as in 气候 climate, 时候 time). Modern Mandarin keeps all these strands active.
Cultural note
The polite greeting 问候 (to send regards) preserves the older sense of inquiring after someone's condition, and 候车 (to wait for a vehicle) keeps the waiting sense alive in everyday signage. Learners frequently confuse 候 with 侯 in handwriting because the only difference is that single extra vertical stroke.
Mnemonic
A person watching with arrows — to wait
Decomposition
Breaking a character into its components makes it far easier to recall. Each component above links to its own detail page.
Basic info
| Stroke count | 10 strokes |
| Radical | 亻 (#9: person) |
| New HSK exam | Recognise at HSK 1 |
| Frequency | #478 most common |
Example sentences
你什么时候有空？
Nǐ shénme shíhou yǒu kòng?
When do you have time?
From 时候 (HSK 1)
这里的气候很好。
Zhèlǐ de qìhòu hěn hǎo.
The climate here is good.
From 气候 (HSK 4)
每逢春节，我都会给远方的亲戚打电话问候。
Měi féng Chūnjié, wǒ dōu huì gěi yuǎnfāng de qīnqi dǎ diànhuà wènhòu.
Every Spring Festival, I call my distant relatives to send my regards.
From 问候 (HSK 7-9)
Words containing 候
Related characters
On the new HSK 1 exam
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Frequently Asked Questions
Appears in these articles
Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.