Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
壤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
壤
rǎng
soil
n, 20 strokes, radical 土, rank #54521, Very Hard
壤
rǎng
earth
n, 20 strokes, radical 土, rank #54521, Very Hard
壤
rǎng
soil, loam, earth; rich
n, 20 strokes, radical 土, rank #54521, Very Hard
rǎng(rang3)rang T3
1soil
2earth
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
壤rǎng(rang3)
The character '壤' (rǎng) refers to soil or earth, specifically rich or fertile soil used in agriculture. It is often used in contexts related to farming, gardening, and the natural environment, indicating the quality and type of soil in a given area.
Strokes20Radical土Frequency#54521DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
'壤' is often associated with traditional Chinese farming practices, where the quality of soil is crucial for crop yield. In Chinese culture, there is a deep respect for the land, and understanding soil types is vital for successful agriculture.
Memory tip
Think of '壤' (rǎng) as a 'rich bank' of soil. The character has a top part that resembles a roof (土) representing earth, and below it looks like a treasure chest filled with valuable nutrients for plants. Imagine a farmer digging up this treasure to grow crops.
Meanings of 壤
rǎng(rang3)
1soil
2earth
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 壤 means.
About 壤
壤Simplified
20Strokes
土Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#54521Frequency Rank
Podcast: 壤
Podcast: 壤
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 壤
Quick Contrast
土 (tǔ) refers to earth or soil in a general sense, while 壤 (rǎng) specifically denotes rich or fertile soil, often in agricultural contexts.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse '壤' with similar characters like '土' (tǔ), which means 'earth' in a more general sense. '壤' is more specific to fertile soil. In academic or formal writing, it's important to use '壤' when discussing agricultural conditions.
HSK Study Tips
While '壤' is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it relates to other HSK Level 3 words like '土' (tǔ) and '田' (tián), which means 'field'. Focus on the context of use related to agriculture and environmental discussions to reinforce your understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '壤' with '土' (tǔ) and use them interchangeably. For example, saying '土的质量' (tǔ de zhìliàng) instead of '壤的质量' (rǎng de zhìliàng) when specifically referring to soil quality is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 壤
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 壤, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 壤 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 壤?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 壤 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
壤 = 土 + 襄. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 壤
IDS Structure⿰土襄
壤Full character
=
土Tu3
left
襄Xiang1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 壤?
How to say soil in Chinese
“soil” in Chinese is壤rǎng
The character '壤' (rǎng) refers to soil or earth, specifically rich or fertile soil used in agriculture. It is often used in contexts related to farming, gardening, and the natural environment, indicating the quality and type of soil in a given area.
When to use 壤
A common mistake is to confuse '壤' with similar characters like '土' (tǔ), which means 'earth' in a more general sense. '壤' is more specific to fertile soil. In academic or formal writing, it's important to use '壤' when discussing agricultural conditions.
壤 or something close to it
土 (tǔ) refers to earth or soil in a general sense, while 壤 (rǎng) specifically denotes rich or fertile soil, often in agricultural contexts.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '壤' with '土' (tǔ) and use them interchangeably. For example, saying '土的质量' (tǔ de zhìliàng) instead of '壤的质量' (rǎng de zhìliàng) when specifically referring to soil quality is incorrect.
Write 壤
壤
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 壤 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 壤
壤 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
索米尔周围的白垩质土____出产著名的安茹葡萄酒。
The chalky soil around Saumur produces the famous Anjou wines.
Example sentences for 壤 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
索米尔周围的白垩质土壤出产著名的安茹葡萄酒。
Suǒ mǐ ěr zhōuwéi de bái è zhì tǔrǎng chū chǎn zhùmíng de Ān rú pútaojiǔ。
The chalky soil around Saumur produces the famous Anjou wines.
