Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
卬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
ánglofty; high; to raise; high-priced, expensivezg, 4 strokes, radical 卩, Very Hard
ángsurname Angunknown, 4 strokes, radical 卩, Very Hard
ángmeunknown, 4 strokes, radical 卩, Very Hard
áng(Ang2) T2
  1. 1lofty; high; to raise; high-priced, expensive
  2. 2me
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
áng(Ang2)

The character 卬 (áng) primarily conveys the meanings of being lofty or high. It can be used in contexts referring to elevation or raising something, whether in a physical or metaphorical sense. Additionally, it can denote expensive items, making it useful in discussions about costs.

Strokes4RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, high status and wealth are often symbolized by height, such as tall buildings or mountains. The character 卬 connects to this cultural value by emphasizing lofty ideals and expensive tastes.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tall mountain (the radical '𠂉' suggests height) rising above the clouds, representing something lofty or high in value. The pronunciation 'áng' sounds like 'ang' as in 'angle,' which can help you remember that it relates to height and elevation.

Meanings of 卬

áng(Ang2)
1lofty; high; to raise; high-priced, expensive
2me
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 卬

Simplified
4Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 卬

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 卬

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a tall mountain (the radical '𠂉' suggests height) rising above the clouds, representing something lofty or high in value. The pronunciation 'áng' sounds like 'ang' as in 'angle,' which can help you remember that it relates to height and elevation.

Usage Notes

While 卬 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, it is less common in daily conversation compared to its variant 昂 (áng). Learners should be cautious not to confuse the two characters, especially since they share similar meanings. Common collocations include phrases that denote high status or expensive items.

HSK Study Tips

Although 卬 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enrich your knowledge of characters related to height and value, particularly at HSK level 3 or higher. Focus on the character's usage in phrases related to elevation and cost to enhance your learning.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, high status and wealth are often symbolized by height, such as tall buildings or mountains. The character 卬 connects to this cultural value by emphasizing lofty ideals and expensive tastes.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 卬 with 昂 due to their similar pronunciations and meanings. For example, saying '我买了一件昂的衣服' (I bought an expensive piece of clothing) instead of '我买了一件卬的衣服' is incorrect, as 昂 is the preferred character for this context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 卬

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 卬

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Origin unclear. Depicts a person standing (人) and a person kneeling (卩).

Memory Hint

A person kneeling 卩 before a person (a king) sitting 匕

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 卬?

Decomposition of 卬

IDS Structure⿰匕卩
Full Character
=
bi3
left
jie2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 卬?

Write 卬

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 卬

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese culture, high status and wealth are often symbolized by height, such as tall buildings or mountains. The character 卬 connects to this cultural value by emphasizing lofty ideals and expensive tastes.

Word Family of 卬

Words Containing This Character1
ángme
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 卬 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 卬

While both characters share similar meanings related to height and value, 卬 is less frequently used in modern Mandarin, whereas 昂 is more common and widely recognized.