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脓 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
nóngpusn, 10 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #16167, Hard
nóng(nong2) T2
  1. 1pus
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(膿)nóng(nong2)

The character 脓 (nóng) refers to pus, which is a thick fluid produced in infected tissue. It is commonly used in medical contexts to describe the discharge from wounds or infections, and carries a connotation of illness or bodily harm.

Strokes10RadicalFrequency#16167DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the understanding of pus and infections is linked to concepts of balance and health, often emphasizing natural remedies and holistic treatments.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'naughty' (sounds like 'nóng') child who has a 'nasty' (similar sounding) infection that produces pus. The character 脓 contains the radical '肉' (meat), indicating it relates to the body, while '农' can remind you of 'naughty' as the child plays in the dirt, getting hurt and producing pus.

Meanings of 脓

nóng(nong2)
1pus
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 脓

Simplified
Traditional
10Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 脓

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 脓

Quick Contrast

脓 (nóng) vs 膿 (nǎng) — use 脓 for the common term in medical contexts, while 膿 is a more formal or literary variant.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'naughty' (sounds like 'nóng') child who has a 'nasty' (similar sounding) infection that produces pus. The character 脓 contains the radical '肉' (meat), indicating it relates to the body, while '农' can remind you of 'naughty' as the child plays in the dirt, getting hurt and producing pus.

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 脓, as it is a medical term and may sound harsh in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 脓液 (nóng yè, pus fluid) and 脓肿 (nóng zhǒng, abscess). Ensure proper pronunciation with the second tone, as mispronunciation can lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 脓 is not in the HSK curriculum, it connects to health-related vocabulary that may appear in higher levels. Focus on understanding medical terms and their implications, as they often involve more complex structures.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the understanding of pus and infections is linked to concepts of balance and health, often emphasizing natural remedies and holistic treatments.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 脓 (nóng) with other similar-sounding words. For example, using 脓 (nóng) instead of 农 (nóng, farming) can lead to misunderstandings in conversations about agriculture.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 脓

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Etymology of 脓

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

Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 农 represents the sound. Simplified form of 膿.

Memory Hint

flesh

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 脓?

Decomposition of 脓

IDS Structure⿰⺼农
Full Character
=
rou4
left
Nong2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 脓?

Write 脓

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

Grammar Patterns of 脓

脓 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

我牙龈____肿,所以他就把那颗牙拔掉了。

I got an abscess so he took the tooth out.

Example Sentences for 脓 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我牙龈脓肿,所以他就把那颗牙拔掉了。

wǒ yá yín nóng zhǒng, , suǒ yǐ tā jiù bǎ nà kē yá bá diào。

I got an abscess so he took the tooth out.
2
在恶劣的条件下,皮肤可能会开裂并流脓。

zài è liè de tiáo jiàn xià, , pí fū kě néng huì kāi liè bìng liú。

In severe cases, the skin can crack and weep.
3
腿烂了.化脓了. 咋办. 疼得要命!

tuǐ làn le. . huà nóng. le .. zǎ bàn . téng!

The leg rotted. Fester. Do how. Ache confoundedly!

Cultural Notes for 脓

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese medicine, the understanding of pus and infections is linked to concepts of balance and health, often emphasizing natural remedies and holistic treatments.

Word Family of 脓

Words Containing This Character5
nóngpus
脓包pustule膿包
脓肿abscess膿腫
化脓to fester化膿
化脓性septic化膿性
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 脓 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 脓

The correct pronunciation is 'nóng', with a rising tone.