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箜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
kōngancient Chinese harpx, 14 strokes, radical ⺮, Very Hard
kōngancient harpunknown, 14 strokes, radical ⺮, Very Hard
kōngcf 箜篌, Chinese harpunknown, 14 strokes, radical ⺮, Very Hard
kōng(kong1) T1
  1. 1ancient Chinese harp
  2. 2ancient harp
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
kōng(kong1)

The character 箜 (kōng) refers to an ancient Chinese musical instrument known as the harp, specifically the konghou. It is often mentioned in historical texts and is associated with traditional Chinese music. This term is typically used in formal contexts, especially those relating to culture and music.

Strokes14RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The konghou, associated with the character 箜, has been an integral part of Chinese music for centuries, often played during royal ceremonies and cultural events. Its significance reflects the deep appreciation for music in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a beautiful ancient harp (konghou) being played in a serene setting. The character 箜 resembles the shape of the instrument with its strings, while the 'kōng' sound can remind you of the soft, flowing music it produces.

Meanings of 箜

kōng(kong1)
1ancient Chinese harp
2ancient harp
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 箜

Simplified
14Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 箜

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AI Study Notes for 箜

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a beautiful ancient harp (konghou) being played in a serene setting. The character 箜 resembles the shape of the instrument with its strings, while the 'kōng' sound can remind you of the soft, flowing music it produces.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 箜 with similar-sounding characters or using it in informal contexts where modern instruments are discussed. It is mostly used in literary and cultural discussions, so learners should be mindful of the context in which they use it.

HSK Study Tips

Though 箜 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, students at this level should recognize its cultural significance. It's beneficial to connect this character with other musical terms and instruments they learn, enhancing their understanding of traditional Chinese arts.

Cultural Note

The konghou, associated with the character 箜, has been an integral part of Chinese music for centuries, often played during royal ceremonies and cultural events. Its significance reflects the deep appreciation for music in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 箜 with similar characters or pronounce it incorrectly. For example, saying 'kǒng' instead of 'kōng' alters the meaning entirely.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 箜

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Etymology of 箜

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

bamboo

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 箜?

Decomposition of 箜

IDS Structure⿱⺮空
Full Character
=
zhu2
top
kong1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 箜?

Write 箜

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 箜

🏮Cultural insight

The konghou, associated with the character 箜, has been an integral part of Chinese music for centuries, often played during royal ceremonies and cultural events. Its significance reflects the deep appreciation for music in Chinese culture.

Word Family of 箜

Words Containing This Character2
箜篌konghou (Chinese harp)
kōngancient harp
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 箜篌 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 箜

In modern times, 箜 specifically refers to the ancient harp, and you might not encounter it in everyday conversation.