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膿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
膿nóngpusx, 17 strokes, radical ⺼
nóng(nong2) T2
  1. 1pus
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

膿nóng(nong2)

The character 膿 (nóng) refers to pus, which is a thick fluid produced in infected tissue, consisting of white blood cells, bacteria, and dead tissue. It is commonly discussed in medical contexts, particularly when talking about infections or wounds. Understanding this term is important for discussing health issues in Chinese.

Strokes17Radical⺼
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the presence of pus is often associated with heat and dampness in the body, and treatments may involve methods to clear these conditions. This reflects a holistic view of health in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Think of 膿 (nóng) as a combination of the radical '肉' (ròu - meat) and '農' (nóng - agriculture). Imagine a farmer dealing with a sick animal, where pus is oozing from a wound. This vivid imagery connects the character's form to the idea of infection and health.

Meanings of 膿

nóng(nong2)
1pus
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 膿

膿Simplified
17Strokes
⺼Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 膿

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Podcast: 膿

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AI Study Notes for 膿

Usage Notes

This term is generally used in medical discussions and should be avoided in casual conversation due to its graphic nature. Common collocations include '膿液' (nóng yè - pus fluid) and '膿腫' (nóng zhǒng - abscess). Be cautious with tone; it can be confused with '浓' (nóng - thick), which has a different meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 膿 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is related to medical terminology that can enhance your vocabulary in the health sector. Focus on similar health-related words and their contexts to build a stronger understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 膿 (nóng) with '浓' (nóng), which means thick or dense. For example, saying '我有膿的汤' (I have pus soup) instead of '我有浓汤' (I have thick soup) can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 膿

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Etymology of 膿

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)⺼
+
Phonetic (sound)農
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 膿

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

  1. 1The meaning half⺼ carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half農 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 膿? 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 膿?

Decomposition of 膿

IDS Structure⿰⺼農
膿Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
農nong2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 膿?

How to say pus in Chinese

“pus” in Chinese is膿nóng

The character 膿 (nóng) refers to pus, which is a thick fluid produced in infected tissue, consisting of white blood cells, bacteria, and dead tissue. It is commonly discussed in medical contexts, particularly when talking about infections or wounds. Understanding this term is important for discussing health issues in Chinese.

When to use 膿

This term is generally used in medical discussions and should be avoided in casual conversation due to its graphic nature. Common collocations include '膿液' (nóng yè - pus fluid) and '膿腫' (nóng zhǒng - abscess). Be cautious with tone; it can be confused with '浓' (nóng - thick), which has a different meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 膿 (nóng) with '浓' (nóng), which means thick or dense. For example, saying '我有膿的汤' (I have pus soup) instead of '我有浓汤' (I have thick soup) can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 膿

膿

Practice writing 膿 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 膿

Words Containing This Character5
脓nóngpus膿
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 膿

No, 膿 is primarily used in medical contexts and is not common in everyday conversation.

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