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膏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
膏
gāo
ointment
n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏
gāo
paste
n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏
gāo
to moisten
n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏
gāo
to grease
n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏
gāo
to apply (cream, ointment)
n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏
gāo
to dip a brush in ink
n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏
gāo
grease, fat; ointment, paste
n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏
gào
ointment
n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏
gào
paste
n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏
gào
to moisten
n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏
gào
to grease
n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏
gào
to apply (cream, ointment)
n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏
gào
to dip a brush in ink
n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
膏
gào
grease, fat; ointment, paste
n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9835, Very Hard
gāo(gao1)gao
primary
T1
1ointment
2paste
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
膏gāo(gao1)
膏 (gāo) refers to a thick, often greasy substance such as ointment or paste. It is commonly used in contexts related to skincare, medicinal applications, or cooking, indicating a consistency that is moist and somewhat viscous. This character conveys the notion of applying something that has a lubricating or healing quality.
Strokes14Radical⺼Frequency#9835DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese medicine, 膏 is often used to describe medicinal pastes that are applied to the skin for healing. These ointments are a part of holistic approaches to health and emphasize the importance of natural remedies.
Memory tip
Imagine a chef named Gao who makes a special ointment from a fat pig. The character 膏 looks like a thick layer of cream spread on a surface. Remember 'Gao' to remind you of the greasy, thick paste that you would apply to heal a wound or enhance a dish.
Meanings of 膏
gāo(gao1)
primary
1ointment
2paste
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 膏 means.
About 膏
膏Simplified
14Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9835Frequency Rank
帖Measure Word
Podcast: 膏
Podcast: 膏
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AI study notes for 膏
Quick Contrast
膏 (gāo) vs 霜 (shuāng) — use 膏 for thick, greasy substances like ointments, while 霜 refers to creams or frost that are lighter in texture.
Usage Notes
膏 is often used in formal contexts, especially in medical or culinary discussions. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, like 高 (gāo), which means 'tall' or 'high'. Common collocations include 膏药 (gāoyào - medicated plaster) and 涂膏 (tú gāo - to apply ointment).
HSK Study Tips
膏 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary list, but it can be related to HSK 4 words concerning health and food. Students should focus on the different contexts where 膏 is used, particularly in health-related conversations.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 膏 with the word 糕 (gāo), which means 'cake.' For example, saying '我想吃膏' (Wǒ xiǎng chī gāo) instead of '我想吃糕' (Wǒ xiǎng chī gāo) would change the meaning from wanting to eat a cake to wanting to eat an ointment, which is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 膏
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 膏 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
膏 = ⺼ + 高. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 膏
IDS Structure⿱高⺼
膏Full character
=
高Gao1
top
⺼rou4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 膏?
How to say ointment in Chinese
“ointment” in Chinese is膏gāo
膏 (gāo) refers to a thick, often greasy substance such as ointment or paste. It is commonly used in contexts related to skincare, medicinal applications, or cooking, indicating a consistency that is moist and somewhat viscous. This character conveys the notion of applying something that has a lubricating or healing quality.
When to use 膏
膏 is often used in formal contexts, especially in medical or culinary discussions. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, like 高 (gāo), which means 'tall' or 'high'. Common collocations include 膏药 (gāoyào - medicated plaster) and 涂膏 (tú gāo - to apply ointment).
膏 or something close to it
膏 (gāo) vs 霜 (shuāng) — use 膏 for thick, greasy substances like ointments, while 霜 refers to creams or frost that are lighter in texture.
What learners get wrong
Learners might confuse 膏 with the word 糕 (gāo), which means 'cake.' For example, saying '我想吃膏' (Wǒ xiǎng chī gāo) instead of '我想吃糕' (Wǒ xiǎng chī gāo) would change the meaning from wanting to eat a cake to wanting to eat an ointment, which is incorrect.
Write 膏
膏
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Practice writing 膏 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 膏
膏 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 7 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
你不一定非要让唇____的颜色同礼服完全搭配。
You don't have to match your lipstick exactly to your outfit.
Your foot will feel better after the application of this ointment.
10
这种新护肤香膏受到了 中年 妇女的欢迎.
zhè zhǒng xīn hù fū xiāng gāo shòudào le zhōngnián fùnǚ de huānyíng.
The new skin balm was welcome by middle - aged women.
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Word Family of 膏
Words containing this character20
膏gāopaste
牙膏yágāotoothpaste
唇膏chúngāolip balm
石膏shígāoplaster
药膏yàogāoointment藥膏
软膏ruǎngāoointment軟膏
病入膏肓bìngrùgāohuāngthe situation is hopeless
膏药gāoyaoherbal plaster applied to a wound膏藥
油膏yóugāobalm
雪花膏xuěhuāgāovanishing cream
挤牙膏jǐyágāolit. to squeeze out toothpaste擠牙膏
橡皮膏xiàngpígāosticking plaster
民脂民膏mínzhīmíngāothe people's blood, sweat and tears
生石膏shēngshígāoplaster
狗皮膏药gǒupígāoyaoquack medicine狗皮膏藥
脂膏zhīgāofat
硬石膏yìngshígāoanhydrite CaSO4
膏血gāoxuèlit. fat and blood
熟石膏shúshígāoplaster of Paris
煅石膏duànshígāoplaster of Paris
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 膏
What does 牙膏 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 膏
Yes, 膏 is often used in traditional Chinese medicine to refer to various ointments or pastes that have therapeutic properties. These are typically applied to the skin for healing purposes and may contain herbal ingredients.
Common phrases include '药膏' (yào gāo), which means medicinal ointment, and '膏油' (gāo yóu), meaning grease or oil. These phrases often refer to specific uses of the word in both medical and culinary contexts.
膏 (gāo) refers to an ointment or paste. It can also mean to moisten or grease something, and is commonly used in contexts involving applying creams or ointments. Additionally, it can describe the action of dipping a brush in ink.
膏 can be used in sentences related to applying substances, such as '我需要涂膏在我的伤口上' (I need to apply ointment on my wound). It can also be used in artistic contexts, like '用膏蘸墨' (Use the paste to dip in ink).
膏 refers to a thicker, often greasier substance, while cream can be lighter and less oily.
Yes, 膏 can refer to cooking pastes or fats used in various recipes.
No, 膏 can be used in both medical and culinary contexts.
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