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磴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
磴dèngstone steps on a cliff or hillq, 17 strokes, radical 石
磴dèngcliff-ledgeunknown, 17 strokes, radical 石
磴dèngstone stepunknown, 17 strokes, radical 石
dèng(deng4) T4
  1. 1stone steps on a cliff or hill
  2. 2cliff-ledge
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

磴dèng(deng4)

The character 磴 (dèng) refers to stone steps or ledges, often found on cliffs or hills. It is commonly used in contexts related to hiking, mountain climbing, or describing rugged terrain where natural stone formations are used as steps.

Strokes17Radical石
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, hiking and exploring mountainous areas are popular leisure activities, often tied to historical sites and natural beauty. The character 磴 embodies the connection between nature and traditional Chinese experiences in outdoor settings.

Memory Tip

Imagine climbing a steep mountain where each step you take is made of solid stone. The shape of 磴 resembles a series of descending steps (the top part) leading down a cliff (the bottom part), helping you remember its meaning of stone steps on a cliff.

Meanings of 磴

dèng(deng4)
1stone steps on a cliff or hill
2cliff-ledge
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 磴

磴Simplified
17Strokes
石Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 磴

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Podcast: 磴

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 磴

Usage Notes

Learners might confuse 磴 with similar-sounding characters. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about nature or hiking. Be careful with the tone; 磴 has a falling tone (dèng), which is crucial for accurate pronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 磴 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners focused on outdoor activities and nature-related topics. Students should connect this word to other terrain-related vocabulary, expanding their descriptive language for landscapes.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 磴 as 'dāng' instead of 'dèng'. Additionally, they might confuse it with 砰 (pēng), which means 'bang' and has no relation to hiking or stones.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 磴

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Etymology of 磴

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Stone 石 steps for climbing 登; 登 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 磴

  1. 1The giveawayStone 石 steps for climbing 登; 登 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

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

Want the full history of 磴? 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 磴?

Decomposition of 磴

IDS Structure⿰石登
磴Full Character
=
石dan4
left
登deng1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 磴?

How to say stone steps on a cliff or hill in Chinese

“stone steps on a cliff or hill” in Chinese is磴dèng

The character 磴 (dèng) refers to stone steps or ledges, often found on cliffs or hills. It is commonly used in contexts related to hiking, mountain climbing, or describing rugged terrain where natural stone formations are used as steps.

When to use 磴

Learners might confuse 磴 with similar-sounding characters. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about nature or hiking. Be careful with the tone; 磴 has a falling tone (dèng), which is crucial for accurate pronunciation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 磴 as 'dāng' instead of 'dèng'. Additionally, they might confuse it with 砰 (pēng), which means 'bang' and has no relation to hiking or stones.

Write 磴

磴

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 磴

Words Containing This Character3
磴dèngcliff-ledge
磴口县Dengkou county in Bayan Nur 巴彥淖爾|巴彦淖尔[Bā​yàn​nào​'ěr], Inner Mongolia磴口縣
磴口Dengkou county in Bayan Nur 巴彥淖爾|巴彦淖尔[Bā​yàn​nào​'ěr], Inner Mongolia
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 磴 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 磴

It is pronounced as 'dèng' with a falling tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 磴?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.