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March 24, 2026
乡(鄉)xiāng(xiang1)
The character 乡 (xiāng) refers to the countryside or rural areas, often evoking a sense of home or a native place. It can also denote a township, which is a specific administrative unit in China. This word is commonly used in discussions about rural life, local customs, and one's roots.
Strokes3Radical幺Frequency#9337DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
乡 is often associated with the traditional Chinese value of filial piety, as it connects individuals to their ancestral roots and local heritage. Many Chinese people have a deep emotional attachment to their 乡, reflecting their upbringing and family history.
Memory Tip
Imagine a farmer (乡 has the radical '阝' which resembles a hill or mound) standing in a lush green countryside, calling out to his hometown. The 'xiāng' sound can remind you of a serene village where everyone knows each other.
Meanings of 乡
xiāng(xiang1)
1country or countryside
2native place
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 乡
乡Simplified
鄉Traditional
3Strokes
幺Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9337Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3BCT✓CEFRB2
Podcast: 乡
Podcast: 乡
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AI Study Notes for 乡
Quick Contrast
镇 (zhèn) vs 乡 (xiāng): Use 乡 when referring to the countryside or a native place, while 镇 specifically refers to a town or urban area.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a farmer (乡 has the radical '阝' which resembles a hill or mound) standing in a lush green countryside, calling out to his hometown. The 'xiāng' sound can remind you of a serene village where everyone knows each other.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 乡 with other similar-sounding terms like '乡亲' (xiāngqīn), which means 'fellow villagers.' While 乡 is often used in informal contexts to discuss rural life, it can also appear in more formal discussions about administrative divisions.
HSK Study Tips
Although 乡 is not specifically listed in HSK vocabulary, it is relevant for HSK 2-3 learners as it connects to themes of home and community. Students should focus on its usage in sentences, especially when talking about their hometowns.
Cultural Note
乡 is often associated with the traditional Chinese value of filial piety, as it connects individuals to their ancestral roots and local heritage. Many Chinese people have a deep emotional attachment to their 乡, reflecting their upbringing and family history.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 乡 (xiāng) with 家乡 (jiāxiāng), which means 'hometown.' A common mistake is saying '我来自乡' (I come from the countryside) instead of '我来自我的乡' (I come from my hometown).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 乡
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Simplified form of 鄉. Pictograph of two people facing each other, kneeling down to share a meal. Based on the original meaning "feast" or "offer food", now written as 饗. The meaning later shifted to "hometown". The traditional component 皀 was remov
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Grammar Patterns of 乡
乡 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
When the weather is good, I usually go to the country.
Cultural Notes for 乡
🏮Cultural insight
乡 is often associated with the traditional Chinese value of filial piety, as it connects individuals to their ancestral roots and local heritage. Many Chinese people have a deep emotional attachment to their 乡, reflecting their upbringing and family history.
Word Family of 乡
Compounds3
雍Yong1harmony, union; harmonious
飨xiang3banquet; to host a banquet
芗xiang1fragrant, aromatic; the smell of herbs
Words Containing This Character20
乡村xiāngcūnrustic鄉村
家乡jiāxiānghometown家鄉
乡xiāngnative place鄉
乡下xiāngxiacountryside鄉下
城乡chéngxiāngcity and countryside城鄉
乡镇xiāngzhènvillage鄉鎮
故乡gùxiānghome故鄉
乡巴佬hick鄉巴佬
老乡lǎoxiāngfellow townsman老鄉
乡下人country folk鄉下人
乡间rural鄉間
下乡xiàxiāngto go to the countryside下鄉
乡亲xiāngqīnlocal people鄉親
返乡to return to one's home town返鄉
异乡foreign land異鄉
梦乡slumberland夢鄉
同乡person from the same village, town, or province同鄉
乡土native soil鄉土
乡里one's home town or village鄉里
水乡patchwork of waterways, esp. in Jiangsu水鄉
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 雍 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 乡
乡 (xiāng) typically refers to a township or a broader rural area, while 村 (cūn) specifically means 'village.' 乡 can encompass several villages, highlighting its larger administrative context, whereas 村 is used for smaller, more localized communities.
Yes, 乡 (xiāng) is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing one's hometown or rural life. It's a meaningful term that evokes cultural and familial connections in Chinese society.
乡 (xiāng) means 'countryside' or 'native place' in Chinese. It refers to a rural area or a person's hometown. Additionally, it can denote a township as an administrative unit in the People's Republic of China.
You can use 乡 (xiāng) in sentences to refer to rural areas or hometowns. For example, '我来自我的乡' (Wǒ láizì wǒ de xiāng) means 'I come from my hometown.' It often carries a sense of nostalgia and connection to one's roots.
乡 generally refers to a larger administrative area or township, while 村 specifically means a village.
No, 乡 specifically denotes rural areas or a native place, so it would not be appropriate to use it for urban contexts.
You can use 乡 to talk about where you're from or to describe rural experiences, such as '我来自一个小乡' (I come from a small countryside).
