Meanings of 鄉
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 鄉
Podcast: 鄉
Podcast: 鄉
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 鄉
乡 (xiāng) vs 村 (cūn) — use 鄉 (xiāng) for a broader sense of rural area or countryside, while 村 (cūn) specifically refers to a village.
Imagine a peaceful village (鄉) where a farmer tends to his crops. The character combines the '阝' radical, suggesting a location, with '相' (xiāng), which can remind you of 'mutual' or 'together,' symbolizing the community aspect of a village.
Be careful not to confuse 鄉 with similar-sounding words. It is more informal and often used in everyday conversation rather than formal writing. Common collocations include 鄉村 (xiāngcūn, countryside) and 鄉音 (xiāngyīn, local accent).
While 鄉 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it connects well with other rural-related terms like 村 (cūn, village) and 土地 (tǔdì, land). Focus on recognizing how 鄉 can describe both the physical space and cultural identity of rural areas.
In Chinese culture, 鄉 is often associated with traditional values, family heritage, and the importance of returning to one's hometown during festivals like the Lunar New Year, highlighting the significance of roots and community.
Learners often confuse 鄉 with similar words like 乡 (xiāng) which is a variant, leading to incorrect usage in context. Remember that 鄉 is more commonly used in traditional contexts and may sound outdated in modern urban discussions.
Pronunciation of 鄉
Drill the tone of 鄉 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 鄉
Simplified form of 鄉. Pictograph of two people facing each other, kneeling down to share a meal. Based on the original meaning "feast" or "offer food", now written as 饗. The meaning later shifted to "hometown". The traditional component 皀 was remov
Two people 乡 and ⻏ hunched over a meal 良
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 鄉?
Decomposition of 鄉
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 鄉?
Write 鄉
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 鄉 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Cultural Notes for 鄉
In Chinese culture, 鄉 is often associated with traditional values, family heritage, and the importance of returning to one's hometown during festivals like the Lunar New Year, highlighting the significance of roots and community.
Word Family of 鄉
Compound Meaning
What does 乡村 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鄉
鄉 generally refers to a broader rural area or region, while 村 specifically means a village.