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March 24, 2026
苍(蒼)Cāng(Cang1)
苍 (cāng) primarily refers to a color, specifically a dark blue or deep green, and can also imply ash-gray in certain contexts. Additionally, it is a surname in Chinese culture, often associated with an ancient lineage. The nuance of this character conveys a sense of age or something that has endured over time.
Strokes7Radical艹Frequency#15863DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The color '苍' is often associated with nature in Chinese culture, evoking images of mountains and deep forests. It reflects a traditional appreciation for the natural world and is often used in poetry to convey profound emotions and beauty.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wise old owl perched on a dark blue tree, its feathers tinged with deep green. This owl, representing wisdom and age, can help you remember '苍' (cāng) as it sounds like 'sang'—the sound of the wind through the leaves of a dark forest, suggesting depth and history.
Meanings of 苍
Cāng(Cang1)
1dark blue
2deep green
Exercise 1 of 2
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Choose the correct answer:
About 苍
苍Simplified
蒼Traditional
7Strokes
艹Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#15863Frequency Rank
Podcast: 苍
Podcast: 苍
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AI Study Notes for 苍
Quick Contrast
苍 (cāng) vs 青 (qīng) — choose 苍 for dark blue or deep green, while 青 is used for lighter shades like blue or green.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a wise old owl perched on a dark blue tree, its feathers tinged with deep green. This owl, representing wisdom and age, can help you remember '苍' (cāng) as it sounds like 'sang'—the sound of the wind through the leaves of a dark forest, suggesting depth and history.
Usage Notes
When using '苍', be careful to distinguish between its use as a color descriptor and as a surname, as the context may change its interpretation. It's also worth noting that '苍' can have a more formal tone, often found in literature or poetry rather than casual conversation. Common collocations include '苍山' (Cāngshān) meaning 'blue-green mountains'.
HSK Study Tips
While '苍' does not appear in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with color terms in HSK 1-2 levels. Students at these levels should focus on recognizing color-related words and their contexts, as well as practicing the pronunciation to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.
Cultural Note
The color '苍' is often associated with nature in Chinese culture, evoking images of mountains and deep forests. It reflects a traditional appreciation for the natural world and is often used in poetry to convey profound emotions and beauty.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '苍' with similar-sounding words like '仓' (cāng), which means warehouse or store, leading to incorrect interpretations. Always remember the context to avoid such mix-ups.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 苍
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Grammar Patterns of 苍
苍 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 5 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
Complete the Sentence
他头发凌乱，没刮胡子，脸色____白。
His hair was disheveled, and his face was unshaven and gray.
Example Sentences for 苍 (10)
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1
他头发凌乱，没刮胡子，脸色苍白。
tā tóu fā líng luàn， ， méi guā hú， zǐ ， liǎn sè。
His hair was disheveled, and his face was unshaven and gray.
2
灯光照在满是灰尘的墙上，反射回苍白的冷光。
dēng guāng zhào zài mǎn shì huī chén de qiáng shàng， ， fǎn shè huí cāng bái de lěng。
Lights reflected off dust-covered walls creating a ghostly luminescence.
3
他为什么选了这么些脸色苍白、有气无力而又无聊乏味的人？
tā wéi shí mó xuǎn le zhè mó xiē liǎn sè cāng bái、 、 yǒu qì wú lì ér yòu wú liáo fá wèi de？
Why did he choose these pale, nerveless, uninteresting people?
4
马西娅苍白无力地一笑，摇了摇头。
mǎ xī yà cāng bái wú lì dì yī xiào， ， yáo le yáo。
Marcia smiled wanly and shook her head.
5
达西脸色苍白，汗珠晶莹。
dá xī liǎn sè cāng bái， ， hàn zhū jīng。
Darcy's face was white and glistening with sweat.
6
那些老树的轮廓映衬在苍白的天空上.
nà xiē lǎo shù de lún kuò yìng chèn zài cāng bái de tiān kōng shàng.
The old trees were profiled against the pale sky.
7
在他的四周，从东到西，从北向南，苍穹里到处繁星闪闪。
zài tā de sì zhōu， ， cóng dōng dào， xī ， cóng běi， xiàng nán ， cāng qióng lǐ dào chǔ fán。
All around him, from east to west, north to south, the stars glittered in the heavens.
8
安迪的脸色由于失望而变得苍白，也许还掺杂着气愤。
ān dí de liǎn sè yóu yú shī wàng ér biàn dé cāng bái， ， yě xǔ huán chān zá zháo qì。
Andy's face paled with disappointment; perhaps with anger as well.
9
她一脸苍白憔悴。
tā yī liǎn cāng bái qiáo cuì。
Her face was pinched and drawn.
10
苍松翠柏,常绿不凋.
cāng sōng cuì bǎi, , cháng lǜ bù.
The pine and the cypress remain green all the year round.
Cultural Notes for 苍
🏮Cultural insight
The color '苍' is often associated with nature in Chinese culture, evoking images of mountains and deep forests. It reflects a traditional appreciation for the natural world and is often used in poetry to convey profound emotions and beauty.
Word Family of 苍
Words Containing This Character20
苍蝇cāngyinghousefly蒼蠅
苍白cāngbáipale蒼白
苍Cāngdark blue蒼
上苍heaven上蒼
苍天firmament蒼天
苍老old蒼老
苍穹the blue dome of heaven蒼穹
苍苍ash gray蒼蒼
苍凉desolate蒼涼
苍茫vast蒼茫
苍生the common people蒼生
苍白无力pale and feeble蒼白無力
苍山Cangshan county in Linyi 臨沂|临沂[Línyí], Shandong蒼山
苍南Cangnan county in Wenzhou 溫州|温州[Wēnzhōu], Zhejiang蒼南
苍劲bold蒼勁
苍鹰(bird species of China) northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)蒼鷹
苍术black atractylodes rhizome (dried rhizome of any of several atractylodes species) (TCM)蒼術
苍翠verdant蒼翠
苍南县Cangnan county in Wenzhou 溫州|温州[Wēnzhōu], Zhejiang蒼南縣
苍龙Blue Dragon, other name of the Azure Dragon 青龍|青龙 (the seven mansions of the east sky)蒼龍
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 苍蝇 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 苍
'苍' can mean dark blue or deep green when referring to colors, but it can also be used to describe something old or hoary, and it is a surname.
'苍' is more often found in literature or formal contexts rather than everyday speech, particularly when describing colors.
'苍' is pronounced as 'cāng', with a high, level tone. Practice saying it with emphasis on the first syllable.
