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March 24, 2026
亢kàng(Kang4)
The character 亢 (kàng) generally conveys the idea of being high, proud, or excessive. It can describe a state of heightened emotion or intensity, such as in '亢奋' (kàngfèn), meaning overly excited. Additionally, it refers to a surname and is associated with one of the 28 lunar mansions in Chinese astronomy.
Strokes4Radical亠Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, an excessive state (亢) can refer to an imbalance in one's health, often tied to emotional states like anger or excitement. This reflects the holistic view of health in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a proud kangaroo (kàng) standing on a high hill, chest puffed out in a show of excessive pride. The character 亢 has a '亻' (person) radical indicating a person exhibiting strong emotions, with '亢' symbolizing height and excess.
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AI Study Notes for 亢
Quick Contrast
高 (gāo, high) - use 亢 (kàng) to emphasize excessive or heightened states, while 高 (gāo) simply denotes height without the connotation of intensity.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a proud kangaroo (kàng) standing on a high hill, chest puffed out in a show of excessive pride. The character 亢 has a '亻' (person) radical indicating a person exhibiting strong emotions, with '亢' symbolizing height and excess.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 亢 with similar-sounding words like 抗 (kàng), which means to resist. Use 亢 in more formal contexts to describe pride or excessive states, as it can sound overly dramatic in casual conversation. Be mindful of the tone; mispronouncing it may lead to confusion with other words.
HSK Study Tips
While 亢 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, its components can help learners recognize characters with similar themes of height or pride. Focus on the context in which 亢 is used and relate it to other words with emotional connotations.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, an excessive state (亢) can refer to an imbalance in one's health, often tied to emotional states like anger or excitement. This reflects the holistic view of health in Chinese culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 亢 in informal situations, leading to overly dramatic expressions. For example, saying '我很亢' (wǒ hěn kàng) to mean 'I am very proud' is incorrect; a more suitable phrase would be '我很自豪' (wǒ hěn zìháo).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 亢
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Grammar Patterns of 亢
亢 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 3 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.
Exercise 1 of 2
Complete the Sentence
他减税的承诺让____奋的人群欢呼雀跃起来。
His tax-cutting pledge brought a delirious crowd to their feet.
Example Sentences for 亢 (2)
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1
他减税的承诺让亢奋的人群欢呼雀跃起来。
tā jiǎn shuì de chéng nuò ràng kàng fèn de rén qún huān hū què yuè qǐ lái。
His tax-cutting pledge brought a delirious crowd to their feet.
Before the game everyone gets psyched up and starts shouting.
Cultural Notes for 亢
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese medicine, an excessive state (亢) can refer to an imbalance in one's health, often tied to emotional states like anger or excitement. This reflects the holistic view of health in Chinese culture.
Word Family of 亢
Words Containing This Character8
亢奋excited亢奮
高亢reverberating
甲亢hyperthyroidism
亢进hyperfunction (medical)亢進
亢kànghigh
不卑不亢neither servile nor overbearing (idiom)
不亢不卑neither haughty nor humble
亢直upright and unyielding (literary)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 亢奋 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 亢
Common phrases include 亢奋 (kàngfèn), meaning overly excited, and 亢龙有悔 (kàng lóng yǒu huǐ), which conveys the idea that excessive pride can lead to regret.
It is not frequently used in casual speech, as it is more suitable for formal writing or specific contexts related to emotions and pride.
It is pronounced with a falling tone (kàng), so ensure you emphasize the tone to avoid confusion with other characters.
