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缸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
gāngearthen jug, crock, cisternHSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 缶, rank #13648, Hard
gāngjarHSK 7, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 缶, rank #13648, Hard
gāngvatHSK 7, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 缶, rank #13648, Hard
gāngclassifier for loads of laundryHSK 7, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 缶, rank #13648, Hard
gāng(gang1) T1
  1. 1earthen jug, crock, cistern
  2. 2jar
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

gāng(gang1)

The character 缸 (gāng) refers to a large container typically made from clay or ceramic, often used for holding liquids or other materials. It can denote an earthen jug, crock, or vat and is commonly used in contexts involving storage or transportation of substances. In addition, it serves as a classifier for loads of laundry, indicating its versatility in everyday life.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#13648DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese households, 缸 is often used for storing fermented foods, such as pickles or sauces, showcasing its importance in culinary practices. This reflects the significance of preservation techniques in Chinese cooking culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant clay jug (缸) standing tall in a laundry room, filled to the brim with clothes waiting to be washed. The sound of 'gāng' resembles the sound of water pouring from the jug, helping you remember its meaning. Picture the jug as a big 'g' shaped container, emphasizing its function as a holder.

Meanings of 缸

gāng(gang1)
1earthen jug, crock, cistern
2jar
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 缸

Simplified
9Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Measure Word
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 缸

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AI Study Notes for 缸

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant clay jug (缸) standing tall in a laundry room, filled to the brim with clothes waiting to be washed. The sound of 'gāng' resembles the sound of water pouring from the jug, helping you remember its meaning. Picture the jug as a big 'g' shaped container, emphasizing its function as a holder.

Usage Notes

When using 缸, be aware that it is more common in informal contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with other similar containers, like 瓶 (píng), which specifically means 'bottle.' Remember that 缸 refers to larger, cylindrical containers, not smaller ones.

HSK Study Tips

Though 缸 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it connects to vocabulary related to household items and storage. Focus on the context of measurements and classifiers, as they are essential for understanding how to use this word effectively within sentences.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese households, 缸 is often used for storing fermented foods, such as pickles or sauces, showcasing its importance in culinary practices. This reflects the significance of preservation techniques in Chinese cooking culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 缸 with other words for containers, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '一瓶衣服' (yī píng yīfú) instead of '一缸衣服' is incorrect, as '瓶' implies a different type of container.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 缸

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Etymology of 缸

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

Phonosemantic compound. 缶 represents the meaning and 工 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

pottery

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 缸?

Decomposition of 缸

IDS Structure⿰缶工
Full Character
=
fou3
left
gong1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 缸?

Write 缸

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

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Grammar Patterns of 缸

缸 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 4 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 5

Complete the Sentence

她用力把烟灰____从房间那头扔过来,差点砸到我的脑袋。

She hurled the ashtray across the room, narrowly missing my head.

Example Sentences for 缸 (10)

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1
她用力把烟灰缸从房间那头扔过来,差点砸到我的脑袋。

tā yòng lì bǎ yān huī gāng cóng fáng jiān nà tóu rēng guò lái, , chà diǎn zá dào wǒ de nǎo。

She hurled the ashtray across the room, narrowly missing my head.
2
金鱼在小小的鱼缸里一圈圈地游来游去。

jīn yú zài xiǎo xiǎo de yú gāng lǐ yī quān quān dì yóu lái yóu qù。

The goldfish swam round and round in their tiny bowls.
3
这个“极可意”浴缸太小了,躺不下。

zhè gè“ “ jí kě” yì ” yù gāng tài, xiǎo le ,。

The jacuzzi was too small to stretch out in.
4
你忘了关浴缸的水龙头了 吗 ?

nǐ wàng le guān yù gāng de shuǐ lóng tóu le?

Have you left the bath running?
5
他完全清醒了,听见浴缸里的水在流。

tā wán quán qīng xǐng le, , tīng jiàn yù gāng lǐ de shuǐ zài。

He came fully awake to hear the bath running.
6
他冲洗了浴缸,然后放满了一缸水。

tā chōng xǐ le yù gāng, , rán hòu fàng mǎn le yī gāng。

He sluiced the bath and filled it.
7
我把烟灰缸倒空了。

wǒ bǎ yān huī gāng dǎo kōng le。

I emptied the ashtray.
8
他的办公室一片狼藉,文件成堆,烟灰满缸。

tā de bàn gōng shì yī piàn láng jiè, , wén jiàn chéng, duī , yān huī。

His office was a disaster area of papers and full ashtrays.
9
请把香烟灰弹在烟灰缸里.

qǐng bǎ xiāng yān huī dàn zài yān huī gāng lǐ.

Drop your cigarette ashes into the ashtray.
10
这个热水按摩浴缸, 陪我们度过天冷的春秋冬.

zhè gè rè shuǐ àn mó yù gāng, , péi wǒ mén dù guò tiān lěng de chūn qiū.

In the winter and spring , we used hot tub a lot.

Cultural Notes for 缸

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese households, 缸 is often used for storing fermented foods, such as pickles or sauces, showcasing its importance in culinary practices. This reflects the significance of preservation techniques in Chinese cooking culture.

Word Family of 缸

Words Containing This Character11
浴缸bathtub
gāngjar
鱼缸fish tank魚缸
烟灰缸ashtray煙灰缸
气缸cylinder (engine)氣缸
水缸water jar
汽缸cylinder (of steam engine or internal combustion engine)
烟缸ashtray煙缸
茶缸mug
酒缸wine jar
顶缸to take the blame頂缸
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 浴缸 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 缸

缸 refers to larger containers like jugs or vats, while 瓶 specifically means bottles, which are typically smaller.