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伉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
伉kànghusband, wife; pair; compare, matchnr, 6 strokes, radical 亻
伉kàngspouseunknown, 6 strokes, radical 亻
伉kàngbig and tallunknown, 6 strokes, radical 亻
伉kàngstrongunknown, 6 strokes, radical 亻
伉kàngrobustunknown, 6 strokes, radical 亻
伉kàngupright and outspokenunknown, 6 strokes, radical 亻
kàng(kang4)kang T4
  1. 1husband, wife; pair; compare, match
  2. 2spouse
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March 24, 2026

伉kàng(kang4)

The character 伉 (kàng) refers to a husband or wife, often emphasizing the idea of a pair or a strong match between spouses. It is less commonly used in modern contexts but can imply a robust and upright character in relationships or partnerships.

Strokes6Radical亻
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of a strong pair in marriage is often revered, symbolizing harmony and balance within the family structure. The character reflects this cultural importance placed on marital partnerships.

Memory tip

Imagine a strong pair of people standing side by side, representing a husband and wife. The character 伉 has a person (亻) on the left, symbolizing individuals, and the right side (夭) can remind you of the idea of 'upward,' implying strength and robustness.

Meanings of 伉

kàng(kang4)
1husband, wife; pair; compare, match
2spouse
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 伉

伉Simplified
6Strokes
亻Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 伉

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Podcast: 伉

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AI study notes for 伉

Usage Notes

This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more formal or literary. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar-sounding characters. It is often paired with other words related to marriage or partnership.

HSK Study Tips

As 伉 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, learners at this level should focus on related words, such as 夫妻 (fūqī) for husband and wife, to build a foundational understanding of family terminology.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 伉 with 亻 (person) and use it inappropriately in casual contexts. For example, saying 伉 to mean 'partner' in a casual setting is incorrect; instead, use 伙伴 (huǒbàn) for 'partner.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 伉

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Etymology of 伉

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

person

Semantic (meaning)亻
+
Phonetic (sound)亢
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

伉 = 亻 + 亢. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 伉

IDS Structure⿰亻亢
伉Full character
=
亻ren2
left
亢Kang4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 伉?

How to say husband, wife; pair; compare, match in Chinese

“husband, wife; pair; compare, match” in Chinese is伉kàng

The character 伉 (kàng) refers to a husband or wife, often emphasizing the idea of a pair or a strong match between spouses. It is less commonly used in modern contexts but can imply a robust and upright character in relationships or partnerships.

When to use 伉

This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more formal or literary. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar-sounding characters. It is often paired with other words related to marriage or partnership.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 伉 with 亻 (person) and use it inappropriately in casual contexts. For example, saying 伉 to mean 'partner' in a casual setting is incorrect; instead, use 伙伴 (huǒbàn) for 'partner.'

Write 伉

伉

Practice writing 伉 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 伉

Words containing this character3
伉俪husband and wife (literary)伉儷
伉kàngspouse
伉俪情深deep conjugal love伉儷情深
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 伉

What does 伉俪 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 伉

It primarily means husband or wife, emphasizing the idea of a pair or match.

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