choking, as by smoke; something that irritates the nose or throat
x, 13 strokes, radical 口, rank #66844, Very Hard
qiāng(qiang1) T1
1choking, as by smoke; something that irritates the nose or throat
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March 24, 2026
嗆qiāng(qiang1)
The character 嗆 (qiāng) primarily means to choke, especially in the context of smoke or something irritating the throat or nose. It is often used to describe the sensation of coughing or difficulty breathing due to inhalation of irritants. This term can also extend to figurative uses, such as a situation that is uncomfortable or overwhelming.
Strokes13Radical口Frequency#66844DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of choking (嗆) is often linked to hot, spicy foods that can cause a burning sensation in the throat. This is particularly relevant in regions famous for their spicy cuisine, such as Sichuan.
Memory Tip
Imagine a strong gust of wind blowing smoke into your face, causing you to cough and gasp - you are 'choking' or 嗆 (qiāng). The character has the mouth radical (口) on the left, suggesting a connection to the act of breathing or choking through the mouth.
Meanings of 嗆
qiāng(qiang1)
1choking, as by smoke; something that irritates the nose or throat
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 嗆
嗆Simplified
13Strokes
口Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嗆
Podcast: 嗆
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AI Study Notes for 嗆
Quick Contrast
嗆 (qiāng) vs 嗔 (chēn) — use 嗆 for choking or irritation, while 嗔 refers to scolding or reprimanding.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a strong gust of wind blowing smoke into your face, causing you to cough and gasp - you are 'choking' or 嗆 (qiāng). The character has the mouth radical (口) on the left, suggesting a connection to the act of breathing or choking through the mouth.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 嗆 (qiāng) with similar sounding words. It is typically used in informal contexts but can also appear in descriptions of health or safety. Common collocations include 嗆到 (qiāng dào, to choke on) and 嗆声 (qiāng shēng, a choking voice).
HSK Study Tips
Although 嗆 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with words related to health and sensation at this level. Students should focus on recognizing the radicals and understanding its usage in everyday contexts, especially in conversations about food or smoke.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of choking (嗆) is often linked to hot, spicy foods that can cause a burning sensation in the throat. This is particularly relevant in regions famous for their spicy cuisine, such as Sichuan.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嗆 (qiāng) with similar-sounding characters like 强 (qiáng, strong). A common mistake is saying 嗆 (qiāng) when referring to strength, while it should be used only in contexts involving choking or irritation.
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Pronunciation of 嗆
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Cultural Notes for 嗆
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of choking (嗆) is often linked to hot, spicy foods that can cause a burning sensation in the throat. This is particularly relevant in regions famous for their spicy cuisine, such as Sichuan.
Word Family of 嗆
Words Containing This Character3
呛qiāngpungent嗆
够呛gòuqiàngunbearable夠嗆
咳呛(dialect) to cough咳嗆
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 呛 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嗆
You can say: '我被烟嗆到了' (Wǒ bèi yān qiāng dào le) meaning 'I was choked by the smoke.'
嗆 is generally informal and more commonly used in everyday speech.
Related words include 嗆声 (qiāng shēng) for 'choking voice' and 嗆到 (qiāng dào) meaning 'to choke on something'.
