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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Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
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
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About 伉
伉Simplified
6Strokes
亻Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 伉
Podcast: 伉
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AI Study Notes for 伉
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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Cultural Notes for 伉
🏮Cultural insight
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.
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 3
Compound Meaning
What does 伉俪 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 伉
It primarily means husband or wife, emphasizing the idea of a pair or match.
No, it is relatively formal and not frequently used in everyday conversation.
You can use it in expressions about marriage or partnerships, such as 伉俪 (kànglì) which means a married couple.