Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 湖 (hú) is a phono-semantic compound, composed of the water radical 氵(水) on the left, indicating its association with lakes and large bodies of water, and the phonetic component 胡 (hú) on the right, which also hints at its meaning of 'vast' or 'expansive'. In ancient texts like the Liushutong, the character's form was more pictorial, often depicting water ripples or a body of water. Over time, its structure was standardized into the modern form, but its core meaning of 'lake' has remained consistent for millennia. Arrived in Japan: The character 湖, along with the vast majority of kanji, arrived in Japan in several waves, primarily between the 5th and 8th centuries AD. It was part of the writing system imported from China via the Korean peninsula, often through Buddhist scriptures and Chinese classical texts. Its adoption was formalized during the Nara period (710-794 AD) as part of Japan's systematic effort to adopt Chinese culture and administration.