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颚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
颚èjawn, 15 strokes, radical 页, rank #26324, Very Hard
颚èpalateunknown, 15 strokes, radical 页, rank #26324, Very Hard
è(e4)e T4
  1. 1jaw
  2. 2palate
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March 24, 2026

颚(顎)è(e4)

The character 颚 (è) refers to the jaw or palate in both anatomical and culinary contexts. It can describe the lower or upper jaw in humans and animals, and is often used in medical or biological discussions regarding oral structures.

Strokes15Radical页Frequency#26324DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the health of the jaw and teeth is often linked to overall well-being, making this term significant in discussions about health and diet. Certain foods are thought to affect jaw health and are commonly referenced in dietary practices.

Memory tip

Visualize a giant jaw (颚) that has a mouthful of food. The top part of the character resembles a roof (𠂇) where the palate sits, while the bottom part represents the jaw (口) that opens wide to eat. Remember the sound 'è' by thinking of a giant mouth saying 'eh?' when surprised by a big bite!

Meanings of 颚

è(e4)
1jaw
2palate
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 颚

颚Simplified
顎Traditional
15Strokes
页Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 颚

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Podcast: 颚

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AI study notes for 颚

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tone: 颚 is pronounced with a falling tone (è), which is different from similar-sounding characters. It is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as medical terminology, rather than in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 颚骨 (jawbone) and 上颚 (upper jaw).

HSK Study Tips

Although 颚 is not included in HSK levels, understanding it can enhance your vocabulary related to anatomical terms. Focus on other related words such as 口 (mouth) and 齿 (teeth) to build a more comprehensive understanding of oral anatomy in Mandarin.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 颚 (è) with 口 (kǒu), which means 'mouth.' For instance, saying '我有一个大口' (I have a big mouth) instead of '我有一个大颚' (I have a big jaw) fails to convey the correct anatomical reference.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 颚

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Etymology of 颚

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

head

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

Origin

颚 = 页 + 咢. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 颚

IDS Structure⿰咢页
颚Full character
=
咢e4
left
页ye4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 颚?

How to say jaw in Chinese

“jaw” in Chinese is颚è

The character 颚 (è) refers to the jaw or palate in both anatomical and culinary contexts. It can describe the lower or upper jaw in humans and animals, and is often used in medical or biological discussions regarding oral structures.

When to use 颚

Be careful with the tone: 颚 is pronounced with a falling tone (è), which is different from similar-sounding characters. It is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as medical terminology, rather than in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 颚骨 (jawbone) and 上颚 (upper jaw).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 颚 (è) with 口 (kǒu), which means 'mouth.' For instance, saying '我有一个大口' (I have a big mouth) instead of '我有一个大颚' (I have a big jaw) fails to convey the correct anatomical reference.

Write 颚

颚

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

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Grammar patterns of 颚

颚 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 2 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 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

别格的牙关咬得那么紧,连上下____都疼了.

Bigger's teeth clamped so tight that his jaws ached.

Example sentences for 颚 (2)

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1
别格的牙关咬得那么紧,连上下颚都疼了.

bié gé de yá guān yǎo de nàme jǐn, lián shàngxià è dōu téng le.

Bigger's teeth clamped so tight that his jaws ached.
2
冈定长久地凝视这个来客,把他仔细打量了一番, 接着翘起沉重的下颚.

gāng dìng chángjiǔ dì níngshì zhège lái kè, bǎ tā zǐxì dǎliang le yīfān, jiēzhe qiào qǐ chénzhòng de xià è.

Gondin sized the new comer up with a lengthy stare, thrust out a heavy jaw.

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Word Family of 颚

Words containing this character3
下颚mandible (lower jaw)下顎
颚èjaw顎
小颚mandible (lower jaw)小顎
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 颚

What does 下颚 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 颚

颚 specifically refers to the jaw or palate, while 口 simply means 'mouth.'

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