Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
杖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
杖
zhàng
a staff
ng, 7 strokes, radical 木, rank #15329, Very Hard
杖
zhàng
a rod
ng, 7 strokes, radical 木, rank #15329, Very Hard
杖
zhàng
cane
ng, 7 strokes, radical 木, rank #15329, Very Hard
杖
zhàng
walking stick
ng, 7 strokes, radical 木, rank #15329, Very Hard
杖
zhàng
to flog with a stick (old)
ng, 7 strokes, radical 木, rank #15329, Very Hard
zhàng(zhang4)zhang T4
1a staff
2a rod
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
杖zhàng(zhang4)
The character 杖 (zhàng) primarily refers to a staff or cane used for support while walking. It can also imply a rod or stick used for various purposes, including punishment in historical contexts. In modern usage, it is often associated with tools for assistance in mobility, especially for the elderly.
Strokes7Radical木Frequency#15329DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the use of a walking stick or cane (杖) is often associated with respect for the elderly, symbolizing support and care. It's common to see older individuals using canes in traditional settings, highlighting the importance of honoring age and wisdom.
Memory tip
Imagine an elderly person using a wooden staff (杖) to walk. The character has the radical '木' (wood) which reminds you that a cane is typically made of wood. The sound 'zhàng' can be remembered by thinking of 'jangle' as the staff might make noise if it hits the ground.
Meanings of 杖
zhàng(zhang4)
1a staff
2a rod
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 杖 means.
About 杖
杖Simplified
7Strokes
木Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#15329Frequency Rank
Podcast: 杖
Podcast: 杖
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 杖
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 杖 with similar-sounding words like 账 (zhàng, meaning 'account'). This character is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as medical discussions or literature, rather than everyday casual conversation. Common collocations include '拐杖' (guǎi zhàng - crutch) and '手杖' (shǒu zhàng - walking stick).
HSK Study Tips
Though 杖 is not in the official HSK vocabulary, its components can help learners recognize other characters with the '木' radical. Students should focus on its practical applications in discussing health and mobility.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 杖 with 账 (zhàng), which means 'account'. An incorrect usage might be saying '我需要一个账来走路' (wǒ xūyào yīgè zhàng lái zǒulù), which should be '我需要一个杖来走路' (wǒ xūyào yīgè zhàng lái zǒulù).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 杖
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 杖, 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 杖 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 杖?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 杖 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.
杖 = 木 + 丈. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 杖
IDS Structure⿰木丈
杖Full character
=
木Mu4
left
丈zhang4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 杖?
How to say a staff in Chinese
“a staff” in Chinese is杖zhàng
The character 杖 (zhàng) primarily refers to a staff or cane used for support while walking. It can also imply a rod or stick used for various purposes, including punishment in historical contexts. In modern usage, it is often associated with tools for assistance in mobility, especially for the elderly.
When to use 杖
Be careful not to confuse 杖 with similar-sounding words like 账 (zhàng, meaning 'account'). This character is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as medical discussions or literature, rather than everyday casual conversation. Common collocations include '拐杖' (guǎi zhàng - crutch) and '手杖' (shǒu zhàng - walking stick).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 杖 with 账 (zhàng), which means 'account'. An incorrect usage might be saying '我需要一个账来走路' (wǒ xūyào yīgè zhàng lái zǒulù), which should be '我需要一个杖来走路' (wǒ xūyào yīgè zhàng lái zǒulù).
Write 杖
杖
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 杖 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 杖
杖 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 5 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.
他费力地拄着拐____，一瘸一拐地着向汽车走去。
Using his stick heavily, he moved jerkily towards the car.
Example sentences for 杖 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他费力地拄着拐杖，一瘸一拐地着向汽车走去。
tā fèilì dì zhǔ zhe guǎizhàng， yī qué yī guǎi dì zhe xiàng qìchē zǒu qù。
Using his stick heavily, he moved jerkily towards the car.
2
她用手杖尖翻拨挪动东西。
tā yòng shǒu zhàng jiān fān bō nuó dòng dōngxi。
She poked and shifted things with the tip of her walking stick.
