Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
顙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
顙sǎngforehead; to kowtowx, 19 strokes, radical 頁
sǎng(sang3)sang T3
  1. 1forehead; to kowtow
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

顙sǎng(sang3)

The character 顙 (sǎng) primarily refers to the forehead, the part of the face located above the eyes and below the hairline. It can also imply the act of kowtowing, which is a traditional gesture of deep respect or submission, often involving bending the body and touching the ground with the forehead. This dual meaning reflects both a physical location and a cultural practice.

Strokes19Radical頁
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the act of kowtowing (to show respect) is often associated with ancestral worship and significant cultural ceremonies, highlighting the importance of respect in social interactions.

Memory tip

Imagine a person bowing so low that their forehead (顙) touches the ground, symbolizing respect. The character has the radical for 'face' (面) which connects it visually to the forehead, making it easier to remember that it pertains to the upper part of the face.

Meanings of 顙

sǎng(sang3)
1forehead; to kowtow
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 顙 means.

About 顙

顙Simplified
19Strokes
頁Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 顙

JasonAmy

Podcast: 顙

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 顙

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 顙 with similar-sounding or visually similar characters. It's important to note that 顙 is mainly used in formal or literary contexts, especially when discussing respect or traditional practices. Be careful with the pronunciation; the third tone can be tricky.

HSK Study Tips

Although 顙 is not commonly included in HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of texts related to traditional Chinese culture. Focus on the pronunciation and practice using it in context to reinforce your memory.

Common Mistakes

Learners might incorrectly use 顙 to refer to the entire head instead of just the forehead. For example, saying '头 (tóu)' instead of '顙' when referring specifically to the forehead is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 顙

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 顙 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 顙 to You

Let me explain 顙 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 顙 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 顙?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 顙 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 顙

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

head

Semantic (meaning)頁
+
Phonetic (sound)桑
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

顙 = 頁 + 桑. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 顙

IDS Structure⿰桑頁
顙Full character
=
桑Sang1
left
頁ye4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 顙?

How to say forehead; to kowtow in Chinese

“forehead; to kowtow” in Chinese is顙sǎng

The character 顙 (sǎng) primarily refers to the forehead, the part of the face located above the eyes and below the hairline. It can also imply the act of kowtowing, which is a traditional gesture of deep respect or submission, often involving bending the body and touching the ground with the forehead. This dual meaning reflects both a physical location and a cultural practice.

When to use 顙

Learners often confuse 顙 with similar-sounding or visually similar characters. It's important to note that 顙 is mainly used in formal or literary contexts, especially when discussing respect or traditional practices. Be careful with the pronunciation; the third tone can be tricky.

What learners get wrong

Learners might incorrectly use 顙 to refer to the entire head instead of just the forehead. For example, saying '头 (tóu)' instead of '顙' when referring specifically to the forehead is incorrect.

Write 顙

顙

Practice writing 顙 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 顙?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Word Family of 顙

Words containing this character1
颡sǎngforehead顙
Exercise 1 of 1

Characters with 顙

What does 颡 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 顙

The pronunciation is 'sǎng', with a third tone. Practice saying it with a rising tone to get it right.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 顙?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab