Hukou
/ˈhuːkoʊ/noun
China’s household-registration system, or the official registration record identifying a person’s household and place of residence.
Did you know?The Chinese characters 户口 literally mean “household” and “mouth,” with 口 historically representing a counted person within a household rather than merely an opening.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Old Chinese
户
“A household, dwelling, or door; the character originally evoked a doorway or household unit.”
Ancient Chinese
Old Chinese
口
“Mouth; by extension, a person counted as a member of a household.”
Classical Chinese
Classical Chinese
戶口
“Household population or registered inhabitants, especially in administrative and census contexts.”
20th Century
Mandarin Chinese
hùkǒu 户口
“The formal household-registration status and record used by the modern Chinese state.”
20th–21st Century
English
hukou
“An English loanword for China’s household-registration system and the resulting residence status.”