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肱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
肱gōngforearmn, 8 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #34071, Very Hard
肱gōngupper armunknown, 8 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #34071, Very Hard
肱gōngarmunknown, 8 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #34071, Very Hard
gōng(gong1) T1
  1. 1forearm
  2. 2upper arm
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

肱gōng(gong1)

The character 肱 (gōng) refers specifically to the upper arm, though it can also be used more generally to denote the arm. It is often found in medical or anatomical contexts and is less common in everyday language compared to more general terms for 'arm'. Understanding this term can help learners discuss body parts in more technical or formal settings.

Strokes8Radical⺼Frequency#34071DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, understanding the anatomy of the body, including the arm (肱), is crucial as practitioners often refer to specific body parts when discussing health and treatment.

Memory Tip

Imagine a strong arm (肱) lifting weights. The character has a radical that resembles a muscle (the left side) and the right side can be visualized as a weight being lifted. This connection reinforces both the pronunciation 'gōng' and the meaning related to the arm.

Meanings of 肱

gōng(gong1)
1forearm
2upper arm
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 肱

肱Simplified
8Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 肱

JasonAmy

Podcast: 肱

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 肱

Usage Notes

肱 is more formal and may not be used in casual conversation where simpler terms like 手臂 (shǒubì, 'arm') are preferred. Be aware of its anatomical connotation, as using it in the wrong context may confuse listeners. Also, remember to use the correct tone 'gōng' to avoid miscommunication.

HSK Study Tips

While 肱 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be useful as learners progress to discussing health and anatomy. Connecting it with other body parts like 手 (shǒu, 'hand') and 腿 (tuǐ, 'leg') can create a broader vocabulary for discussing the human body.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 肱 with 手臂 (shǒubì), which is a more common term for 'arm'. For example, saying 肱 to refer to the arm in casual conversation may sound overly formal; it’s better to use 手臂 in those situations.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 肱

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Etymology of 肱

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

flesh

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 肱

  1. 1The meaning half⺼ carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half厷 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayflesh
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 肱? 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 肱?

Decomposition of 肱

IDS Structure⿰⺼厷
肱Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
厷gong1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 肱?

How to say forearm in Chinese

“forearm” in Chinese is肱gōng

The character 肱 (gōng) refers specifically to the upper arm, though it can also be used more generally to denote the arm. It is often found in medical or anatomical contexts and is less common in everyday language compared to more general terms for 'arm'. Understanding this term can help learners discuss body parts in more technical or formal settings.

When to use 肱

肱 is more formal and may not be used in casual conversation where simpler terms like 手臂 (shǒubì, 'arm') are preferred. Be aware of its anatomical connotation, as using it in the wrong context may confuse listeners. Also, remember to use the correct tone 'gōng' to avoid miscommunication.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 肱 with 手臂 (shǒubì), which is a more common term for 'arm'. For example, saying 肱 to refer to the arm in casual conversation may sound overly formal; it’s better to use 手臂 in those situations.

Write 肱

肱

Practice writing 肱 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 肱

Words Containing This Character4
肱gōngarm
肱骨humerus
股肱trusted aide
曲肱而枕fig. content with simple things
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 肱 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 肱

No, 肱 is more formal and is typically used in medical or anatomical contexts.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 肱?

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.