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殭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
殭jiānga stiff corpsezg, 17 strokes, radical 歹, rank #62723, Very Hard
jiāng(jiang1) T1
  1. 1a stiff corpse
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March 24, 2026

殭jiāng(jiang1)

The character 殭 (jiāng) refers to a stiff corpse, often associated with the concept of a dead body that is rigid due to decomposition processes. It is commonly used in contexts discussing death, funerals, and folklore involving the undead. The term can evoke themes of horror or the supernatural in literature and media.

Strokes17Radical歹Frequency#62723DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese folklore, the concept of a stiff corpse is often linked to the legendary 'jiangshi' (僵尸), a type of reanimated corpse that is a popular character in horror stories and movies. This reflects cultural beliefs about death and the afterlife, as well as the fascination with the supernatural.

Memory Tip

Imagine a stiff corpse (殭) standing upright like a statue. The character has the radical for 'death' (死) on the left, suggesting something lifeless, and the right part resembles a person who is frozen in place, emphasizing their rigidity. Picture a ghostly figure that cannot move, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation (jiāng).

Meanings of 殭

jiāng(jiang1)
1a stiff corpse
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 殭

殭Simplified
17Strokes
歹Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 殭

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Podcast: 殭

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AI Study Notes for 殭

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 殭, as it is quite formal and may not be appropriate in casual conversations. Common collocations include phrases related to death and the supernatural. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that have lighter meanings, as this can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 殭 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it can be useful for learners interested in literature and supernatural themes. Connect this word with other HSK vocabulary related to death or the afterlife, and focus on its pronunciation and context in storytelling.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 殭 with similar characters due to pronunciation. For example, using 'jiāng' when referring to something less severe, such as a 'body' (尸体), can lead to inappropriate connotations. Always ensure the context is related to death or the supernatural.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 殭

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Etymology of 殭

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

corpse

Semantic (meaning)歹
+
Phonetic (sound)畺
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 殭

  1. 1The meaning half歹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half畺 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaycorpse
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 殭? 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 殭?

Decomposition of 殭

IDS Structure⿰歹畺
殭Full Character
=
歹dai3
left
畺jiang1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 殭?

How to say a stiff corpse in Chinese

“a stiff corpse” in Chinese is殭jiāng

The character 殭 (jiāng) refers to a stiff corpse, often associated with the concept of a dead body that is rigid due to decomposition processes. It is commonly used in contexts discussing death, funerals, and folklore involving the undead. The term can evoke themes of horror or the supernatural in literature and media.

When to use 殭

Be cautious when using 殭, as it is quite formal and may not be appropriate in casual conversations. Common collocations include phrases related to death and the supernatural. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that have lighter meanings, as this can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 殭 with similar characters due to pronunciation. For example, using 'jiāng' when referring to something less severe, such as a 'body' (尸体), can lead to inappropriate connotations. Always ensure the context is related to death or the supernatural.

Write 殭

殭

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

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Word Family of 殭

Words Containing This Character13
僵尸gyonshi殭屍
僵硬jiāngyìngstiff
僵jiāngrigid
僵局jiāngjúimpasse
僵持to be deadlocked
僵化jiānghuàto become rigid
僵直stiff
弄僵to bring to deadlock
李代桃僵to carry the can for sb
僵卧to lie rigid and motionless僵臥
死而不僵to die hard (idiom)
白僵蚕the larva of silkworm with batrytis白殭蠶
尸僵rigor mortis屍僵
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 僵尸 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 殭

殭 specifically refers to a stiff corpse, often with implications of rigidity due to death, while other terms may be more general or have different connotations.

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