Common Meanings
1
hòu候
To wait; to expect; to attend
请您在候车室等候，车辆马上就到。
Please wait in the waiting room, the vehicle will arrive shortly.
to visit, to inquire after someone's health or well-being; to wait upon, to serve
我去看望生病的奶奶，并向她问候。
I went to visit my sick grandma and inquired after her.
Refers to a season or climate; also used to describe migratory animals or insects specific to a season.
每年秋天，这些候鸟都会飞往南方过冬。
Every autumn, these migratory birds fly south for the winter.
The state or condition of things in a process of change, often referring to a critical stage or duration, such as 'huǒhòur' (cooking duration/heat) or 'zhēnghòu' (symptom).
这道菜的火候掌握得刚刚好，味道真棒！
The cooking time for this dish was perfectly controlled; it tastes truly wonderful!
In ancient China, 'hòu' referred to a period of five days. This term is still used in meteorology, for example, in 'hòuwēn' (average temperature over five days).
本月的第二候，气温明显升高，预示着夏季的到来
In the second five-day period of this month, the temperature rose significantly, signaling the arrival of summer.