# hulu

/ˈhuˌɫu/ (US) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hulu
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a traditional Chinese bottle made from a dried gourd. It is often used as a symbol of good luck or to hold medicine.

For teachers: a bottle or container fashioned from the dried, hollowed-out shell of a calabash fruit. Historically used in Chinese culture for storing medicine or wine, it serves as a significant symbol of longevity and health in Taoist tradition.

## Examples

- The old doctor carried his medicine in a small hulu.
- In many traditional Chinese homes, a hulu is hung near the entrance to bring good health to the family.
- The artisan spent weeks carving intricate patterns into the surface of the hulu, transforming a simple dried gourd into a vessel worthy of a museum collection.

## Usage notes

- Often refers specifically to the bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) in a cultural or historical context.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.