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March 24, 2026
昂áng(ang2)
The character 昂 (áng) primarily conveys the meanings of lifting, raising, or elevating something, as well as expressing high spirits or pride. It can describe both physical actions, like raising one's head, and abstract concepts, such as elevated emotions or expensive items. Commonly used in phrases that denote high status or a proud attitude.
Strokes8Radical日Frequency#7455DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the idea of raising one's head is often associated with pride and dignity, especially in historical contexts where individuals would display their honor or status in society. This character can be found in phrases celebrating achievement and ambition.
Memory Tip
Imagine a proud eagle (昂) soaring high in the sky, raising its head to the clouds. The character's top part shows a sun rising, symbolizing elevation, while the bottom resembles a person lifting their head in pride. This imagery helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 昂
áng(ang2)
1to lift
2to raise
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 昂
昂Simplified
8Strokes
日Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#7455Frequency Rank
Podcast: 昂
Podcast: 昂
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AI Study Notes for 昂
Quick Contrast
昂 (áng) vs 高 (gāo) — use 昂 for elevated emotions or pride, while 高 specifically refers to physical height.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 昂 with similar-sounding characters, so pay attention to the tones, particularly the rising áng versus the falling tones of other characters. It is more commonly used in formal contexts or literary expressions rather than everyday speech. Common collocations include 昂首 (áng shǒu) meaning to raise one’s head high.
HSK Study Tips
Although 昂 is not currently listed in the HSK levels, it relates to HSK vocabulary that describes emotions or physical states. Focus on learning its usage in context, such as in idiomatic expressions or literary texts to enhance your understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 昂 in contexts where a different character is more appropriate, such as confusing it with 高 (gāo) for high. An incorrect example would be saying '昂的价格' (áng de jiàgé) instead of '高的价格' (gāo de jiàgé) when referring to high prices.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 昂
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Phonosemantic compound. 日 represents the meaning and 卬 represents the sound.
1The meaning half日 carries the sense.
2The sound half卬 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaysun
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 昂? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 昂?
Decomposition of 昂
IDS Structure⿱日卬
昂Full Character
=
日Ri4
top
卬Ang2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 昂?
How to say to lift in Chinese
“to lift” in Chinese is昂áng
The character 昂 (áng) primarily conveys the meanings of lifting, raising, or elevating something, as well as expressing high spirits or pride. It can describe both physical actions, like raising one's head, and abstract concepts, such as elevated emotions or expensive items. Commonly used in phrases that denote high status or a proud attitude.
When to use 昂
Learners often confuse 昂 with similar-sounding characters, so pay attention to the tones, particularly the rising áng versus the falling tones of other characters. It is more commonly used in formal contexts or literary expressions rather than everyday speech. Common collocations include 昂首 (áng shǒu) meaning to raise one’s head high.
昂 or something close to it
昂 (áng) vs 高 (gāo) — use 昂 for elevated emotions or pride, while 高 specifically refers to physical height.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistakenly use 昂 in contexts where a different character is more appropriate, such as confusing it with 高 (gāo) for high. An incorrect example would be saying '昂的价格' (áng de jiàgé) instead of '高的价格' (gāo de jiàgé) when referring to high prices.
Write 昂
昂
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Grammar Patterns of 昂
昂 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 8 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
Complete the Sentence
我觉得我们斗志高____。
I thought that we had a lot of fight in us.
Example Sentences for 昂 (10)
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1
我觉得我们斗志高昂。
wǒ jué dé wǒ mén dǒu zhì gāo áng。
I thought that we had a lot of fight in us.
2
因为正在使用很多昂贵的设备，所以我非常紧张。
yīn wéi zhèng zài shǐ yòng hěn duō áng guì de shè bèi， ， suǒ yǐ wǒ fēi cháng jǐn。
I get very nervous because I'm using a lot of expensive equipment.
